Batu Pahat Hardest Hit As Storms Hit Several Districts In Johor

BATU PAHAT, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- A total of 56 houses were reported damaged after storms and strong winds hit several districts in Johor yesterday, with Batu Pahat recording the highest number of cases.

State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the incident caused property damage, particularly to the roofs of houses, which were blown off, as well as several food stalls that were also affected.

“So far, 28 police reports have been lodged by affected families, involving 15 cases in Batu Pahat, 12 in Tongkang Pechah and one in Parit Raja. No temporary evacuation centre (PPS) has been opened,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

Meanwhile, a resident of Taman Santalia, Tongkang Pechah, Azlan Sam, 60, said that during the incident at about 4.30 pm yesterday, he heard two loud bangs before the storm struck, accompanied by heavy rain.

“I could only watch from inside the house as the storm blew away my stall, and my car was also struck by a fallen tree,” he said, adding that several zinc roofing sheets from his house were also torn off during the nearly 30-minute incident.

Another resident, Johari Sitam, 63, said that in his more than 49 years of living in the area, this was the strongest storm he had ever experienced, which caused damage to his house and a power outage.

“Several pieces of zinc roofing were blown away, and our family has been left in the dark after the house lost its electricity supply,” he said.

Meanwhile, Johor Civil Defence Force director Kamal Molhtar said two houses in Kampung Pinggir, Simpang Renggam, were also damaged by the storm.

Parit Yaani assemblyman Datuk Mohamad Najib Samuri said his office had been informed of the incident and would ensure that appropriate assistance is channelled to the victims.

Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) deputy director-general (Operations) Ambun Dindang said that the current storm conditions are a normal occurrence during the monsoon transition phase, which began on Sept 30.

He said the phenomenon is expected to persist until November, with heavy rain and strong winds usually occurring in the afternoon and evening, particularly along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA