Windstorm brings down minaret, damages 100 homes near Ipoh

IPOH: A minaret at a mosque in Kampung Seri Klebang near here crashed down on a homestay premises during a windstorm Saturday (April 25) evening.

The minaret, which also served as a telecommunications tower, at the Al-Amaniah At-Taiyibah Mosque in Kampung Seri Klebang collapsed after being battered by strong wind and rain on Saturday at about 6.30pm.

The homestay, which was within the premises of the mosque, had just been completed recently and was not occupied during the incident.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who visited the village Saturday night, said about 100 houses there and in surrounding areas were damaged during the storm.

"I understand that it was prior to breaking fast for the people here.

"Fortunately, no one was hurt during the incident," he said.

"We are still assessing the damage and compiling a list of those affected. The state will assist them.

"We will place the victims at a temporary shelter or a homestay if needed," he added.

Faizal also said there would be a tight standard operating procedure (SOP) in handling disasters during the movement control order.

"It will be something similar to how we handle the homeless when we place them at the transit centre at the Badminton Arena.

"The current situation is still not too bad," he said, adding that the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) also has its SOP.

"The pandemic is being controlled well and nothing too worrying but there is still a need for social distancing," he added.

Also present was Manjoi assemblyman Datuk Asmuni Awi who said that his team will assist those affected.

"We will prepare food for the affected families for sahur," he said.

About 800m away, a tree was uprooted and fell on a car at Kampung Chepor Dalam.

No one was hurt during the incident.

Other areas affected during the storm included Taman Rishah Silibin, Bukit Merah in Menglembu and in Bercham, which were all hit by flash floods.

Meanwhile, a flash flood in Kampung Kelah Baru in Sungkai also left six families with 26 people homeless.

The victims are taking temporary shelter at SMK Sungai Keruit, about 1km away. - Star