MELAKA – A family of eleven had a fretful time when the homestay they were in was crushed by a fallen tree during a storm and heavy rain at 4am this morning.
Mohd Syafiq Hamdan, 35, who came from Johor Baru to visit a sick family member, said he arrived at the Seri Telok Mas Homestay at 4pm yesterday.
“At first I thought somebody was knocking on the door because there was a strong wind with thunder and heavy rain at around 3.30am so I went out to see but there was nothing.
“But not long after, around 4am, I heard a loud bang from above. Apparently a tree fell and hit the front porch roof, including the garage,” he said when met by reporters at Taman Seri Telok Mas here today.
He said that he was thankful that his family members were safe, and only the side mirror of one of his family members’ car was broken.
Meanwhile, another victim, Mohamad Rizuan Zainal Abidin, 39, said that he had woken up to get ready for his business but found his garage and living room wrecked, and his car also damaged by broken tree branches.
“But I’m thankful that my wife and four children are all safe. Rainwater however gushed into the house after the roof was hit by a tree, especially the living room and bedroom,” said Rizuan, who rented the house more than a year ago.
In the 4am incident, a total of four houses involving five families with 20 residents in Taman Seri Telok Mas were badly affected when they were hit by fallen trees due to heavy rain and the storm.
No victims were reported injured. Clean-up work is underway, including cutting and moving the fallen trees using a crane while losses are still being assessed. – Bernama, September 18, 2022
