Videos of a freak thunderstorm have gone viral online, showing pieces of roofs and other debris being blown off by strong winds.
The incident supposedly happened in Bercham, Ipoh. Is this true?
VERDICT:
TRUE
The freak thunderstorm damaged over 200 houses in Bercham here, leaving residents affected and causing widespread power outages.
Anjung Bercham and Tasek Timur areas were the worst hit on Friday (June 19), with roofs blown off, uprooted trees and fallen electricity poles, after the storm that struck at about 4pm.
Minder Singh, a resident who lives in Dataran Tasek Timur 3, said he was at home with his wife when strong winds hit.
“My wife and I were watching television when it suddenly started raining. I went to shut the windows because the wind was very strong.
“When I looked outside, I saw the awnings of my house and my son’s house next door being blown onto the electricity pole in front of the house," he said when met at his house.
“Nothing like this has ever happened before. My son only recently bought the house next door and painted it two months ago. He had planned to rent it out.
“Luckily there were no children in the house," he said.
"Water is leaking into my house, and there has been no electricity since 4pm,” he added.
Car detailer Sirach Daniel, 28, said he received a call from his tenant informing him about the incident.
“It was like a tornado just hit here. We have relocated our tenant elsewhere.
“The roof of the house has been blown off. It is very bad. An electricity pole fell in front of the house onto the cables. The estimated repair cost could reach RM300,000, which is almost equivalent to buying a new house,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kinta District Civil Defence Force (APM) operations control centre said in a statement that they received reports at about 5.20pm.
"The heavy rain and strong winds lasted about one hour and 30 minutes.
"Over 200 residents were affected by the incident," it said.
Among the affected areas were Hala Tasek Timur 1 (22 houses), Lorong Bercham 19 (22 houses), Dataran Tasek Timur 6 (177 houses), Lintasan Tasek Timur 1 (two houses), Lintasan Tasek Timur 3 (two houses), Hala Tasek Timur 34 (10 houses) and Laluan Tasek Timur 15 (five houses).
It added that a temporary relief centre at Dewan Datuk Sam has been placed on standby should evacuation become necessary.
"Tenaga Nasional Bhd has temporarily cut off electricity supply in the affected area.
"Ipoh City Council, together with Civil Defence Force personnel, have begun carrying out clean-up works and clearing away fallen trees in the affected areas," it said.
