KUANTAN: A freak storm accompanied by a heavy downpour lasting about 30 minutes struck the heart of Kuantan yesterday evening, tearing through three residential suburbs and leaving more than 60 homes damaged, an official said.
Kuantan District Civil Defence Force (APM) officer Major (PA) Zahidi Zainudin said the storm, which lashed the area at around 7.30pm, affected homes in Taman Tanah Putih, Bukit Setongkol, and Taman Cenderawasih.
The deluge caused ceilings to collapse in some houses, while roofs were blown away by strong gusts of wind, he said.
Zahidi said powerful winds also uprooted trees, one of which crashed onto a house on Jalan Bukit Bayroute, though no casualties were reported.
The storm caused brief traffic disruptions in several areas as emergency crews cleared fallen branches and debris, he said.
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Zahidi said 40 houses were reported damaged in Taman Tanah Putih, while more than 20 others were affected in Bukit Setongkol and Taman Cenderawasih.
“APM personnel have been deployed to the affected areas to gather further information and carry out cleaning work. We have also provided the residents with the necessary initial assistance,” he said.
Zahidi also said the Kuantan APM received 13 reports of fallen trees, some of which were uprooted during the thunderstorm.
“One tree fell onto a house at Jalan Bukit Bayroute, while others caused brief traffic disruptions along several major roads. Firefighters and excavators were deployed to remove the uprooted tree and fallen branches,” he said.
A series of high tides, which could potentially cause flooding, is expected in Kuantan until Nov 11, with sea levels forecast to reach between 3.4m and 3.8m, roughly equivalent to the height of a single-storey building.
Malaysia has experienced increasingly erratic weather in recent years, which scientists attribute to the effects of climate change.
The northeast monsoon, typically setting in from November, often brings heavy rain and strong winds to the east coast, including Kuantan, heightening the risk of floods and property damage.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant as extreme weather events become more frequent across the region.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
