Rare tidal wave destroys popular Labuan outlet

LABUAN: A rare tidal wave phenomenon has hit the water and coastal villages here, destroying the popular floating seafood restaurant of Anjung Ketam Nagalang.

Its 62-year-old owner, Ali Buah, said three-metre high waves crashed against the restaurant building and its wooden walkway on Tuesday night, causing damage estimated at RM100,000.

“That was 8pm and it happened in the blink of an eye. We had never experienced such massive waves before.

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“We could only watch and do nothing when waves struck the extended restaurant structure and washed ashore the broken pieces of the wooden walkway,” he said when met at the scene, Friday.

Ali has temporarily closed the restaurant, located 12km from the town centre, for repairs.

Labuan Corporation Valuation, Investment and Asset Management Department Director Gilbert Chin said emergency repair works on the walkway would commence soon involving an allocation of about RM50,000.

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Meanwhile, thousands of residents in the Kg Bebuloh Laut and Patau-Patau 1 and 2 water villages panicked as strong waves and rising water threatened to inundate their homes on Tuesday night.

The waters had submerged more than 30 concrete and wooden bridges in their villages.