Sabah folk flee 200m waterspout

Sabah folk flee 200m waterspout

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): A 200-meter-high waterspout which suddenly formed off the coast of Malaysia's Sabah state sent people fleeing who thought it was the La Nina phenomenon about to descend upon them, a report said on Wednesday.

The Star daily said powerful winds, which sent beach stalls and furniture flying at a beach resort, started blowing on Tuesday afternoon in Sabah's state capital, Kota Kinabalu.

Dark clouds also loomed over the capital for two hours and heavy rain began to fall when witnesses saw the waterspout dramatically form at sea. No injuries were reported as people ran for shelter.

The daily carried a photograph of the waterspout with dark clouds swirling at its head, while anxious villagers watched its progress. The spout, however, subsided before reaching land.