Malaysia: Brace for very bad weather, coastal warning for east coast

Maizatul Ranai New Straits Times 20 Dec 11;

Tropical storm Washi producing strong winds and waves

STRONG winds and rough seas are expected in several coastal states until Dec 29.

The Meteorological Department issued a warning on northeasterly winds reaching speeds of up to 60kph and waves exceeding 5.5m in waters off Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, eastern Johor, Sarawak, Labuan, Sabah (interior, west coast and Kudat), Samui, Tioman, Bunguran, Condore, Reef North, Reef South, Layang-Layang and Palawan.

This is because of tropical storm Washi. The storm was located at latitude 9.6N and longitude 112.5E, 593km west of Palawan, the Philippines, as of 11am yesterday. The storm had tracked westwards at a speed of 20kph.

Strong northeasterly winds of 40kph to 50kph, with waves of up to 3.5m off Langkawi, Perlis, northern Kedah, Sabah (Sandakan), Phuket and Sulu are also expected to continue until Saturday.

The condition is dangerous for small craft, recreational sea activities and sea sports.

The department also issued a warning for coastal areas of the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, which are vulnerable to a rise in sea level. This poses a danger to small boats, beach activities, ferries and ships as well as oil rigs. It is expected to continue until Saturday.

Thunderstorms in waters off Condore, Bunguran and Reef North are expected to continue until today. In waters off Malacca, Johor, Pahang, Terengganu and south of the Straits of Malacca, thunderstorms were expected to die down yesterday.

Drainage and Irrigation Department water resources management and hydrology division director Hanapi Mohamad Noor said the water levels at Sungai Lenik in Batu Pahat and Sungai Mengkibol in Kluang had risen above the danger level, recording 6.3m and 26.07m respectively, at 2pm yesterday.

The danger level for Sungai Lenik is 6m while for Sungai Mengkibol, it is 25.46m.

The department is also monitoring the rainfall in the state, with the heaviest recorded at 53mm in Jalan Yong Peng on Sunday night. The average reading is less than 40mm.

Two evacuation centres were opened in Kluang on Sunday night to accommodate 144 evacuees.

The centres are at SK Kampung Mengkibol and SJKC Ping Ming.

A total of 350 Orang Asli living in five villages in Kahang were cut off from the main road by floods.

Johor

Water levels at Sungai Lenik in Batu Pahat and Sungai Mengkibol in Kluang had risen above the danger level, recording 6.3m and 26.07m respectively.

Avoid sea activities, warns maritime agency
New Straits Times 20 Dec 11;

JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has issued an alert to those residing in the coastal areas of eastern Johor due to strong winds and waves.

The alert follows a Category Three warning by the Meteorological Department after tropical storm Washi hit Palawan, the Philippines, early yesterday.

MMEA southern region chief First Maritime Admiral Zulkifli Abu Bakar said coastal areas of Mersing, Tanjung Sedili, Desaru and Sungai Rengit would be hit by storms with strong winds of up to 60kph and waves as high as 5.5m.

Zulkifli said the choppy seas and strong winds made it dangerous for any beach or sea activities.

He said three drownings were reported within a week. A 19-year-old drowned in Tanjung Balau on Dec 14, followed by a 14-year-old and a 21-year-old off Desaru on Sunday.

"Rescuers found the body of the 14-year-old at 1pm on Sunday, while efforts are ongoing to recover the body of the 21-year-old man," he said, adding that initial investigations revealed that the victims did not adhere to the red-flag warning.

Zulkifli reminded the public not to bring their families to the beach on the east coast of Johor because of the monsoon season.

"Beach hotel and resort operators have also been advised to take action to prevent visitors from going to the beach."

Stay away from beaches, public told
The Star 20 Dec 11;

JOHOR BARU: The public have been warned against recreational activities along some beaches in Johor and the northern part of the country due to the current rough weather.

In Johor, the Malaysian Maritime Enforce­ment Agency is urging parents to keep their children off the beaches during the school holidays.

Southern Region commander First Admiral Zulkifli Abu Bakar said strong winds, high waves and thunderstorms were expected to hit the shores of Mersing, Tanjung Sedili, Desaru, Sungai Rengit and East Johor until next Thursday.

The winds could go up to 60km per hour while the waves could measure over 5.5m, he warned.

Current weather conditions, he said, would also be dangerous for those involved in maritime activities, including fishermen and oil rig workers.

“Sea conditions are dangerous even to swimmers. Although this is the holiday season, there are many other family activities which do not involve going to the beach,” Zulkifli said.

The Meteorological Department also advised against recreational activities and sea sports in the waters off Langkawi, Perlis, northern Kedah and Sandakan due to strong winds, which were expected to continue until Saturday.

However, it assured the public that the Tropical Storm Washi, which battered southern Philippines over the weekend and left hundreds dead or missing was not heading towards Sabah and Sarawak.

Its director-general Datuk Yap Kok Seng said the storm was expected to move south-westwards from Palawan in the Philippines and would be closer to Vietnam.

He said the forecast for thunderstorms, rough seas and strong winds until Dec 29 was due to the monsoon.

Johor kelongs a no-go for anglers now
Many fishing spots and resorts closed in wake of major storm alert
Tham Yuen-C Straits Times 22 Dec 11;

THEY are normally a favourite fishing destination for Singaporeans in search of a relaxing getaway.

But yesterday, Mersing's kelongs were shuttered in the wake of a storm alert that forecast waves as high as 5.5m.

Many had been fully booked for this weekend, but the turbulent weather has turned it into a complete washout.

Reservations had to be cancelled, even though food had been prepared for the influx of holidaymakers.

Even hardcore anglers are giving Mersing, Johor, a miss this year.

Retiree Chia Gin Song, 52, who fishes regularly in the area, cancelled his weekend stay at a kelong after he heard that the waves had swollen to as high as 4m. 'That's higher than a one-storey flat,' said the Singaporean. 'Imagine the waves tossing the boat from floor to ceiling. Even if you don't capsize, you will vomit from being seasick. Better not take the risk.'

On Monday, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency warned people not to take part in recreational activities at beaches along Johor's eastern coast.

It followed a Category Three warning by the Malaysian Meteorological Department forecasting thunderstorms, rough seas and winds of up to 60kmh until next Thursday.

The Met also said strong winds are expected at beaches in Langkawi, Perlis, northern Kedah and Sandakan until Saturday. Beach resorts such as Mersing, Tanjung Sedili and Desaru, all of which are popular with Singaporeans, were expected to be hit by huge waves.

Yesterday, all four kelongs in Mersing were closed, as were some beach resorts in nearby islands such as Sibu. But beach activities were still going on at the Lotus Desaru Beach Resort further south.

Mr Chia said some of the kelongs in Mersing had asked their customers to leave last weekend in anticipation of the bad weather. Ah Fatt Kelong said yesterday that it would remain closed until the conditions improved.

'We are not accepting any customers until the situation is better. The waves are just too big; it's dangerous,' a spokesman said in Mandarin.

He added that he had received calls every day from Singaporeans checking when the kelong would reopen.

Strong winds and choppy seas was a factor when an overloaded boat carrying 29 people capsized off Mersing last December. Five Singaporeans, who were on a fishing trip, died.

Since Monday, even the larger ferries operating between Tanjung Leman and the kelongs have been out of action. The vessels, each of which has a capacity of about 100 passengers, are usually deployed in bad weather, when the smaller boats cannot get to the kelongs.

Mr Ho Jhia Bin, 40, who runs the Sibu Coconut Village Resort, said: 'There were some Singaporeans who called to book tours this week, but we told them the wind is too strong and the sea too choppy for the trip.'

He added: 'Category Two winds we can still manage, but Category Three is too dangerous.'

On popular angling website Fishing Kaki, some users have posted messages alerting others about the bad weather and cancellations.

Mr Chia said some holidaymakers might still want to go to Mersing because they have already taken leave, but he warned against taking the risk.

'Even the big cruise ships don't want to sail when waves are 5m high; the small boats don't stand a chance,' he said.