Storm blows off roofs of nine houses and surau in Kijal, no injuries reported

“CHUKAI, May 29 — Families rushed to safety after strong winds and heavy rain damaged nine houses and a surau in Kampung Yak Yah, Ibok, Kijal near here yesterday evening. Kijal assemblyman Datuk Razali Idris said the storm struck at about 4.30 pm, with most of the houses suffering severe roof damage while two homes were damaged after being struck by fallen trees. No injuries were reported. “A total of 32 victims from five families were relocated to a temporary relief centre (PPS) at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Ibok after it was opened at 7 pm,” he told reporters at Kampung Yak Yah, Ibok today. One of the victims, Abu Bakar Ismail, 77, said the incident occurred while he was at home with his family. He said they were shocked when a durian tree suddenly toppled and crashed onto the house. “We all rushed out of the house to save ourselves after hearing a loud bang on the kitchen roof,” he said. Another victim, Mohamad Ikmal Hafiz Arif, 29, said he was asleep in one of the rooms in his house when the incident occurred, while his parents and siblings had gone to visit relatives in Besut for Aidiladha celebration. He said he woke up after hearing a loud noise coming from the roof. “I was shocked to see the entire roof above my room and living room blown away by the strong winds. I immediately ran out of the house to avoid anything worse from happening,” he said. — Bernama

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