A shaken Nik Nazar recounting the harrowing moment outside his home which was destroyed in just 10 minutes. — Bernama
PASIR PUTEH: A civil servant was left devastated after his home, built 30 years ago, was destroyed in just 10 minutes by a storm in Kampung Kok Berangan here.
Nik Nazar Noor Ab Ghani, 46, said the incident occurred at 6.15pm on Saturday after he had returned from work.
Recounting the harrowing moment, he said he was resting alone at home when suddenly the zinc roof began to shake and wooden beams started flying off within seconds.
“The wind was very strong at that time, causing my house to shake. I quickly ran out to save myself and took shelter at a neighbour’s house.
Blown down: An aerial view of the disaster in Kampung Kok Berangan, Pasir Puteh, Kelantan.
“Although I managed to escape, I am saddened as the ancestral home, which has been my refuge for the past 10 years, collapsed,” he said, adding that he would look for a new rental house, Bernama reported.
Another victim, Razleena Awang, 32, said she and eight other family members were watching television at home during the incident.
“We were engrossed in a show when suddenly, an explosive sound startled us, and we saw that the roof had disappeared. The strong storm lasted about six to 10 minutes, and we did not have time to save other belongings in the living room and bedrooms,” she said, adding that many electrical appliances suffered damage.
Meanwhile, grocery store owner Tuan Abdul Kadir Engku Daud, 75, said he and his wife, Raja Haromah Ismail, 70, were busy closing their store at 6pm when the storm hit.
“We were busy tidying up the store when suddenly, the storm lifted several wooden dining tables placed outside the shop, and some zinc sheets from the store also flew off,” he said.
The storm struck several villages in the district for 10 to 15 minutes on Saturday.
Pasir Puteh Fire and Rescue station chief Azhar Elmi Mustofar said that there were no casualties in the incident. He reported that fallen trees had blocked the road in Kampung Kedai Menanti, and it took firefighters nearly two hours to remove them.
