PETALING JAYA: A sudden 15-minute storm hit parts of Kulai, Johor late Saturday evening, ripping roofs off homes, damaging several vehicles, and leaving several families displaced.
Six homes at Block 4 of the Temenggong Flats were badly affected after strong winds tore off sections of the building’s roof, forcing six families to seek temporary shelter. About 10 vehicles parked nearby were also damaged by falling debris.
The storm and strong gale-like winds also damaged eight units at the Taman Puteri Flats, with six sustaining severe roof damage. Several vehicles there were also damaged by falling debris.
Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor visited the sites on Sunday to assess the damage and the aid to be given to the affected families.
He said he wanted to evaluate the situation firsthand and ensure that aid is promptly provided to those affected.
“I understand that when your home is damaged, especially the roof, it affects not just the physical structure but also the emotional well-being of the entire family,” Mohd Jafni said in a Facebook post yesterday.
He said the Kulai Municipal Council and relevant agencies had been instructed to carry out immediate repair works and coordinate on-site operations to ensure residents’ safety.
At the Temenggong Flats, temporary canvas sheets were installed on damaged roofs to prevent further water damage while cleaning was carried out.
Mohd Jafni announced that the Johor state government has approved RM1.59mil to replace roofs at three residential blocks at Taman Puteri Flats.
The project, involving the replacement of ageing asbestos roofs with more durable metal deck structures, will begin on April 10 and is expected to be completed by Aug 10, he added.
Mohd Jafni said this was the first recorded storm incident at the Temenggong Flats since its construction in 1998, while the Taman Puteri Flats, built in 1999, had experienced similar incidents previously.
On Saturday, the Malaysian Meteorological Department had issued a thunderstorm warning affecting several areas in the country, including Kulai.
It said such conditions could bring intense rainfall and strong winds capable of causing structural damage and flash floods.
