Labuan Corporation To Repair Tornado-damaged Community Hall In Kg Sungai Miri

LABUAN, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The community hall, or Balai Raya, at Kampung Sungai Miri here that was badly damaged by a tornado in August will soon undergo repair works funded by the Labuan Corporation (LC).

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the repair would be financed through the internal emergency fund of the local authority.

She said that besides the community hall, the Aug 29 incident also caused damage to at least 29 houses in eight villages and to Sekolah Kebangsaan Rancha-Rancha in Kg Sungai Lada.

“The Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and the Ministry of Education will also contribute to the repair efforts to ensure that the affected structures, especially public facilities, are restored as soon as possible,” she said to reporters after visiting the site today.

Zaliha said immediate financial aid from Labuan Corporation had already been channelled to the affected families right after the disaster to help ease their burden.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) confirmed the brief yet destructive incident, which lasted less than half an hour, was caused by a waterspout that moved ashore and intensified into a tornado.

A department spokesman said when a waterspout travels from the sea to land, it is classified as a tornado and may strengthen rapidly, causing extensive damage such as tearing off roofs and endangering lives.

--BERNAMA