By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 25: A powerful afternoon storm swept across Kuching this afternoon, ripping off ceiling panels at Kuching International Airport (KIA), toppling trees, damaging vehicles and tearing roofing sheets from an apartment block that crashed onto nearby homes in Tabuan Dayak.
Among the worst affected was the home of local daily photographer Chimon Upon in Tabuan Dayak, where large metal roofing sheets and structural frames blown off from a nearby apartment block crashed onto the house while his mother-in-law and son were inside.
The impact left parts of the roof badly damaged and punctured, while electricity supply to the house was disrupted. Large pieces of roofing material and metal frames were scattered across the property in the aftermath of the storm.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, who visited the scene, noted that no injuries were reported despite the severity of the incident.
“Fortunately, no one was injured,” he said, adding that he had also received reports of two other roofs being blown off during the storm.
Describing the incident as an unpredictable natural disaster, Wee said the increasingly extreme weather conditions were a reminder of the effects of climate change.
“These are things that are unpredictable. You can actually see the effects of climate change, with the haze, the heat, and suddenly heavy rain. That is why we talk about environmental sustainability,” he said.
He said the authorities would work with relevant parties, including the developer of the affected apartment block, to assist victims and restore normalcy as soon as possible.
“We will try to assist the victims and make sure everything goes back to normal. For the time being, we will talk with the relevant parties, including the developer, and see how to resettle those affected because the roof is gone and the house will not be able to withstand another rainstorm.
“We will see how we can help so people can return to their homes,” he said.
Wee also urged the public to avoid assigning blame on social media and instead focus on helping those affected.
“It is unnecessary to blame certain quarters or point fingers. That will not help. Let us resolve problems together and put ourselves in the victims’ shoes.
“If there is something that needs to be rectified, put forward constructive suggestions. If you cannot help, then remain silent. If you can help, by all means do so. This is the Sarawak spirit… Sarawakians should help one another,” he added.
Elsewhere in the city, social media reports showed several vehicles damaged by fallen trees along roads between Saradise and Aeroville, while motorcycles were also reportedly knocked over in several areas.
The Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Sarawak also reported multiple tree-fall incidents across the Kuching and Samarahan divisions, including at Desa Wira, Jalan Arang, Samarahan Golf Club and the Stampin swimming pool. — DayakDaily
