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.