Traffic brought to a standstill, 200 houses in knee-deep water

KULAIJAYA: A two-hour thunderstorm not only brought traffic to a standstill in many parts of the city but also caused about 200 houses to be covered by knee-deep flood water.

Several houses and a school caught fire after being struck by lightning during the 5pm downpour.

Fires were reported in at least seven places, including SK Kangkar Tebrau and four homes in Taman Daya and Kampung Mohd Amin.

However, firemen managed to put the fires out before they spread.

There were also two cases of uprooted trees in Taman Dahlia and Simpang Renggam.

The storm also caused massive flash floods and traffic chaos along Jalan Lido, Jalan Tebrau, Pasir Gudang and Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Jalan Skudai and Kulai.

Knee-deep flood water entered about 200 houses in Kampung Ubi Tebrau.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Mohd Rizal Buang said they were kept busy attending to fires and fallen trees.

“The wind and lightning were really bad. Our forensics team is investigating the fires at the school and houses,” he added.

Four fire engines raced to the school after the department received a call at 5.30pm.

A fire official said they brought the fire under control within 15 minutes but the top floor of the three-storey building was destroyed.

“For the three houses in Taman Daya, the fires were put out within half an hour,” said the official, adding that another house in Kampung Mohd Amin was also damaged after being struck by lightning.