A total of 71 houses and a midwifery clinic in Kota Setar were badly damaged when a freak storm hit the area today.

Among the areas affected by the 5pm incident were Taman Mergong Jaya (25 houses damaged), Kampung Sungai Baru (22), Kampung Batin (10), Taman Inang (eight) and Kampung Mergong Hilir (six).

Bernama found that many of the affected houses had their roofs blown off by the strong wind, while several trees were uprooted in the 10-minute incident. However, no casualties were reported.

A Kota Setar Fire and Rescue Station spokesperson said calls from the public informing of the incident started coming in at 5.22pm.

“A number of relevant agencies and us are providing the assistance needed to the affected residents,” the spokesperson added.

A victim in Kampung Sungai Baru, Mohd Nazim Hamzah, 46, said he saw a twister-like wind approaching his house from about 100 metres away.

Soon after, the entire roof of his house was blown away by the strong wind, he said.

“I also saw zinc sheets flying around in that 10 minutes before the wind moved towards Mergong,” he added when met at the scene today.

Another victim, Mohd Syafik Abdul Kadir, 15, said he heard a loud sound coming from above and the house started to shake.

“Planks on the top part of my house began to fall. I ran out of the house and sought refuge in my neighbour’s car park area.

“I also saw a mango tree falling right on my house, damaging it,” he said.

- Bernama