BY Hakim Hayat

Thunderstorms and strong winds battered the Sultanate over the weekend, with the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) on Monday reporting the tally of emergency calls received at 113 in the two-day period.

Uprooted trees blocking roads and falling on vehicles and properties, and roofs being blown off were among the main concerns.

Firefighters were deployed to affected roads to clear out debris to allow traffic to flow again.

A petrol station in Jalan Mata-Mata had to be temporarily closed for repair due to strong winds having damaged its ceiling, Brunei Shell Marketing Company Sdn Bhd (BSM) said in a statement released on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, trees were reported to have fallen on parked cars in Mukim Sengkurong.

Meanwhile, John Han, a senior citizen, described the remnants of the storm in Mukim Berakas as “a scene straight out of a post-apocalyptic movie”.

The Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department (BDMD) reported a low pressure system forming over South China Sea, triggering the development of active rain clouds.

The BDMD said active weather conditions are forecasted to persist until the end of the week with occasional squally showers, especially in the afternoon and at night, and may prolong until early morning.

Showers are expected to be heavy, gusty and thundery at times, with winds reaching up to 60 kilometres per hour over land, while over waters, gusts may reach up to 80 kilometres per hour.

The public is advised to take precautionary action with respect to the forecasted active weather condition.

Risk of falling trees is still expected during gusty conditions. There is also risk of flash floods especially at low-lying and flood prone areas, near river banks during heavy rain that may last for more than one hour, and during high tide.

Neighbouring Malaysian states have also reported winds ripping roofs off buildings and damaging properties.

Malaysian news agency Bernama last Friday cited a warning from Malaysia’s Meteorological Department that heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds are expected in Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan and peninsula.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin