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Brunei Safe From Durian

Bandar Seri Begawan - With Typhoon Durian wreaking havoc across the region with over 1000 people feared dead in the Philippines, and Malaysia issuing its highest alert for strong winds in Sabah and Sarawak, here in Brunei the local meteorology department Sunday said there was no cause for alarm.

Speaking to the Bulletin, Weather Forecaster Awang Hj Sidup said the typhoon, which is moving fast towards Central Vietnam from Northern Philippines, will not cause any destruction in Brunei as it was not in a position to do so.

"However its tail effect has caused the sea here to be rough and to increase slightly, up tol.2 nits. Squally showers too are predicted.

"The sea state can be rough but there's nothing to be alarmed about as the typhoon is fast moving out of our region towards Indochina," he said.

"At Sam this morning we observed the typhoon located at 13.9

North and 114 East, with central pressure 955hpa and moving westward towards Indochina at 12kph over the Central South China Sea."

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Malaysia meanwhile issued its highest alert for strong winds and rough seas off the country's eastern states of Sabah and Sarawak as destructive typhoon Durian made its way through the region.

"The conditions of strong winds and rough seas are dangerous to all shipping and coastal activities, including fishing and ferry services," the department said in a statement posted on its website.

The department Sunday morning said the typhoon in the South China Sea was tracking westwards and was located 909km northwest of Sabah's capital Kota Kinabalu, and 1404km northeast of Sarawak's capital, Kuching.

"The typhoon is moving westward towards Vietnam. The wind is strong and also the sea will be rough. Even though (Durian) is very far away, the swell will be causing the sea to be very rough," a meteorology official told AFP.

The Malaysian Met Department said it had upgraded its warning on Saturday night of second category winds and rough seas for Sabah and Sarawak to the most serious third category on Sunday.

"If the wind reaches 50 to 60 kilometers (per hour), we consider it the third category," said the official. "It is the most serious ... It's dangerous to all marine activities," he said, adding the department had alerted maritime officials several days ago over typhoon Durian.

The department said winds of between 50 and 60 kilometres per hour and swells of up to 5.5 metres (18 feet) were expected off Sabah and Sarawak.

Conditions were at second category for peninsular Malaysia's east coast, with winds of 40 to 50 kilometres and rough seas with swells of up to 4.5 metres expected, it said. The department said the conditions would persist until December 6. Typhoon Durian has torn through the eastern Philippines since Thursday, triggering massive mudslides with fears that up to 1,000 people have been killed. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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