VICTIMS RECOUNT TERRIFYING ORDEAL AFTER STORM RIPS THROUGH TAIPING HOMES

TAIPING, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- A family of six in Taman Damai went through a terrifying ordeal and were forced to seek shelter in their car after part of their house was damaged in a storm yesterday afternoon.

Hisharuddin Mat Isa, 51, said the storm, which struck at 4 pm, tore off part of the roof and caused the ceilings in the living room, bedrooms and kitchen to collapse within seconds.

“I was resting at home with my mother, wife, daughter and two nieces when it happened. It was raining heavily, and suddenly I heard extremely strong winds hitting our house.

“In the blink of an eye, the roof was ripped off and the ceiling collapsed. We all panicked. I immediately told my family members to get out of the house and take shelter in the car parked outside,” he told Bernama when met at his residence in Taman Damai here today.

The security guard said that for now, his family is staying at a temporary evacuation centre (PPS) at the Taman Kaya Multipurpose Hall.

In yesterday’s incident, 22 families from Taman Damai, Taman Ria, Taman Kaya, Taman Desa Cemerlang and Batu 2 ½ were relocated to the PPS after their homes were damaged by the storm and uprooted trees.

The storm caused extensive damage, including houses crushed by falling trees, roofs blown away and  Ramadan bazaar tents damaged.

Meanwhile, Ten Teik Ming, 55, said it was the first time a storm had caused damage to his house in Taman Ria.

The electrician said he rushed home after receiving a call from his wife informing him of the damage.

“I found that the awning had been lifted and its pillar had fallen onto the roof of my neighbour’s house. I will repair it as soon as possible to prevent rainwater from entering the front area of our house,” he said.

Another victim, Muhammad Qhushairi Mat Desa, 42, said nearly 90 per cent of the kitchen roof of his house in Taman Ria was damaged in the incident.

“We have to bear the initial repair costs ourselves to prevent rainwater from entering and damaging equipment or other facilities in the kitchen,” he added.

-- BERNAMA