Storm Devastates Sekinchan, Leaving Dozens Of Homes Damaged

SABAK BERNAM, March 12 (Bernama) -- Calm before the storm. This was the atmosphere in Taman Ria, Sekinchan, near here as preparations by residents to break fast amidst a quiet ambience, turned chaotic when the area was hit by a storm, causing damage to dozens of houses.

Recalling the terrifying moment just before the Asar prayer yesterday afternoon, victim Irham Mohammad, 44, said that at the time, he was resting in the living room while accompanying his sick father after returning from work around 12 noon.

He said the weather, which had been slightly cloudy, started to darken as Asar approached, before heavy rain hit, followed by the sound of strong winds coming from the front of the house — something that had never happened before.

"The rain lasted only for a few minutes, but what shook us most was the sound of the strong wind. In the blink of an eye, our house was 'lit up' as the roof, from the garage to the kitchen, was blown off by the wind.

"For safety, we chose to stay sheltered inside the house, even though at that point, our home had no roof," he said to Bernama when met at the temporary relief centre (PPS) at Dewan Seri Sekinchan late last night.

Irham was among 17 victims from four families who had to spend the night at the PPS after their homes, along with around 30 other residences, were severely damaged by the storm that hit around 5 pm.

Irham who works as an assistant at a petrol station, said the incident caused over 70 per cent of his home to be destroyed, but he is grateful that his father, mother, and younger sibling are safe.

Meanwhile, his father, Mohammad Idar, 78, described the incident as extraordinary, as the area had never experienced a storm in the more than 40 years he had lived there.

"I have been bedridden for several years, so in that state, I watched as the roof of my house flew away in just a few minutes.

"Now that this has happened, I no longer think about preparing for Aidilfitri... I hope that some parties will come forward to help all the victims involved," he said.

This incident marks the second tragedy in a week to strike Sekinchan, after a storm hit Kampung Parit 4, damaging eight houses in an event around 7 am on March 6.

-- BERNAMA