KOTA KINABALU: Rain brought relief to several districts in the west coast and interior of Sabah yesterday.
Acting State Meteorological Department director Lim Ze Hui said more rains were forecast in weeks to come.
Rainfall was observed at Beaufort, Tambunan, Kota Belud and Tuaran on Tuesday afternoon, and Papar, Kota Kinabalu and Penampang at night.
Meanwhile, Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said a 200ha area at Binsuluk Forest Reserve in Beaufort is still burning while most of the fires in the Kimanis/Bongawan and Jalan Membakut/Bongawan forest areas have been extinguished.
"The fire which had destroyed 50ha of jungle at Padas Damit Forest Reserve has been put out.
“Those fires were caused by farmers’ activities who carried out open burning, and later spread to the forest reserves,” he said in a statement today.
A Department of Environment spokesman said the Air Pollutant index readings at Beaufort, Papar and Kuala Penyu dropped to moderate levels yesterday and are expected to drop further.