KUCHING: Heavy rain and violent storms that hit several areas in this district on Saturday forced the closure of the N6 Metrocity 2 Youth Night Market following severe damage to infrastructure and vendors’ tents.
A vendor, identified as Mohamad Faisal, 42, recounted the terrifying moment that occurred during the weekend night peak business hours.
He said the sudden storm forced vendors to flee, following strong winds that blew away and demolished the canopy structure at the site.
“As I was walking to my site, the storm suddenly started. Other traders and I fled because we were afraid the canopies would hit us.
“The situation at that time was very dangerous because the canopies were flying. There was a canopy that flew in front of some people,” he told Bernama at the N6 Metrocity 2 Youth Night Market site on Saturday night.
Traders who have been operating at the night market for the past 10 years estimate they have incurred losses of almost RM2,000 due to broken and damaged equipment and merchandise.
N6 Metrocity 2 Youth Night Market deputy chairman Hamzah Hassan described it as one of the worst incidents to hit the site.
He estimated over 40 trader lots were severely affected due to damage to canopies and sales equipment out of a total of about 300 lots at the night market.
“Public facilities and infrastructure such as the main stage, management office and electricity supply cables also suffered damage.
“Each trader is estimated to have suffered losses of between RM2,000 and RM5,000 for the cost of the canopy alone depending on the size and structure, excluding damage to business equipment such as stoves and water jugs,” he said.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department on Saturday issued a thunderstorm warning from 5pm to 9pm for several areas in Sarawak including Kuching, Serian, Siburan, Samarahan, Simunjan, Kapit and Song.
