KUCHING: A freak storm ripped roofing from buildings and brought down trees and branches across several parts of Kuching yesterday.
Homes, commercial premises and The Spring Shopping Mall were among the properties affected, while power supply was also disrupted in some areas.
The family home of Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, where part of the roof was blown off, was also mong the affected properties.
Dr Sim said the house belonged to his late mother, Sim Lim Su Kheng.
He expressed relief that everyone at the house was safe when the incident occurred, adding that he was in Bintulu at the time.
“Quite a few houses in the surrounding area, including The Spring Shopping Mall, were affected by the freak storm.
“Several other places in Kuching were also affected,” he said in a Facebook post.
Kuching South Mayor, Datuk Wee Hong Seng, said several commercial and residential properties sustained roof damage during the heavy rain and strong winds.
He said the storm left residents shaken and disrupted power supply in some areas, with repair works subsequently carried out.
Wee thanked the Fire and Rescue Department (BOMBA), Civil Defence Force, police, Kuching South City Council (MBKS), councillors and community leaders for assisting affected residents.
Meanwhile, MBKS councillor, Eric Tay, reported fallen trees and branches at Jalan Padungan near Loong Kee and Jalan Rumbia in front of Hi-Bread.
He said the BOMBA was notified, while clearing works were carried out at the affected locations.
In a separate incident within the MBKS jurisdiction, zinc roofing from several shophouses was blown off and landed in the back lane of Wisma Phoenix at Padungan Garden.
The debris blocked the road and damaged two vehicles parked in the area.
Tay said the MBKS Enforcement Unit cordoned off the site, while Padungan police helped contact the vehicle owners.
MBKS contractors and firefighters from the Padungan fire station later cleared the roofing and debris, allowing the road to reopen.
Both Dr Sim and Wee also raised concerns over the increasing impact of climate change following the storm.
“Climate change is not only real but is also causing tremendous damage to properties in Sarawak, even though Sarawak is ‘net zero’,” Dr Sim said.
Wee said the effects of climate change were becoming increasingly severe and called for greater urgency in protecting the environment.
