Twenty houses in three villages in Balik Pulau, Penang were badly damaged in a storm early today.  

Hundreds of villagers in Kampung Terang, Kampung Perlis and Kampung Genting managed to flee to safety during the storm at about 2.30am.  

Pulau Betong state assemblyperson Muhamad Farid Saad said the storm also damaged other property of the villagers.

He said the Implementation and Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department was making an assessment of the damage for delivery of aid.

“Three contractor firms have been appointed to repair the damage to the houses while the Social Welfare Department will provide the daily necessities,” he said.

One of the victims, Jamaludin Ahamad, 65, said he was watching television in the living room and the other members of his family were asleep at that time.

“I got a shock when I heard the mangosteen tree behind the house crash onto the kitchen roof, but no one was injured,” he said at the scene.

Fatimah Sanin, 43, said it was the worst disaster she had experienced so far.

“I had just cautioned my children about the strong wind when the roof above the living room and master bedroom collapsed,” she said.

She said the family ran to an open area and joined the other villagers.

- Bernama