GEORGE TOWN: A violent squall that struck Penang, Kedah, and other areas early on Sunday (June 29) morning ripped off roofs and uprooted trees.

Weather apps with satellite imagery showed that the storm blew in from the Straits of Melaka and first hit Balik Pulau on the western side of Penang island at about 4am.

Winds exceeding 50km/h spread the storm across the island before it moved into Kulim and Sungai Petani in Kedah.

Penang Island City Council (MBPP) mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the freak storm caused the roof of a flat block in Taman Tun Sardon to collapse onto seven cars at about 4.30am.

"When the enforcement team arrived, they found seven vehicles sustained damage due to a collapsed flat roof structure that had fallen onto the cars," he said.

Rajendran added that MBPP Skuad Pantas conducted clearance operations to remove scattered zinc sheets from the road to ensure the area is safe and passable for traffic.

He said MBPP contacted the flat management for further action and reported no casualties from the early morning incidents.

Rajendran noted the storm also uprooted trees in several areas on the island. The affected areas included Lengkok Bawah, Tingkat Besi, Jalan Gurdwara, Paya Kongsi, and Lebuhraya Batu Maung.

Skuad Pantas was deployed to clear debris and fallen trees and successfully completed the restoration work at all locations.

Meanwhile, the storm also caused damage in several places in Kedah, particularly in Kulim and Sungai Petani, during the early hours of Sunday.

Affected areas in Kulim included Jalan Mahang, Sungai Lembu, Taman Cendana, and Jalan Selasih.

A Civil Defence Force (APM) spokesman said several response teams were sent to clear roads blocked by fallen trees.

"Our team has successfully cleared all the tree branches in the affected areas," he said.

He added that no casualties or damages have been reported, except for tents belonging to traders in Dataran Kulim.

The spokesman said no major incidents were reported in Sungai Petani, except for a few minor ones.