Severe weather warning for Sarawak

That sinking feeling: An aerial view of Kampung Melayu Hilir in Serian, Sarawak, which has been hit by floods following heavy rain. As at noon yesterday, six temporary relief centres have been opened to shelter 79 evacuees from 18 families. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department has issued a severe weather warning, with continuous heavy rains expected in several areas in Sarawak involving Kuching, Serian and Samarahan throughout today.

The department also issued similar alerts in several areas in Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit (Song) and Bintulu (Tatau), all in Sarawak.

It said that during this period, incidents of strong winds could also occur in the coastal areas of Sarawak and Sabah.

Strong northeasterly winds of speeds up to 50kph, with waves up to 3.5m high, could also occur in the waters off east Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Sarawak, west and east Sabah as well as Labuan, it said in a statement yesterday.

“This could pose a risk of an overflow of seawater on the coast and estuaries in these areas, ” MetMalaysia added. — Bernama