Strong winds and heavy rain lash Sarawak

MIRI: Fierce winds and heavy rain lashed several parts of coastal Sarawak, toppling trees and blowing away roofs.

The bad weather, from Tuesday until early yesterday, affected the Petra Jaya housing area in Kuching and Sungai Rait village in Miri.

Firemen in Petra Jaya were forced to seek help from the Sarawak Energy Bhd to cut off power supply as flying zinc sheets and planks landed in between electric cables.

In Miri, heavy rain and strong winds whipped the area at dawn and lasted until late morning yesterday.

Civil Defence Department personnel helped to clear toppled trees in Sungai Rait and Lambir.

A typhoon raging near southern Philippines since Monday is believed to be causing the stormy weather in Sarawak.