Septuagenarian traumatised as roof of dream house ripped off by storm

BALING: A storm which damaged 36 houses across several villages in Kuala Ketil near here yesterday, has left a septuagenarian traumatised by the incident.
Rubber tapper Idris Mustafa, 76, has been crest-fallen since the roof of the family home in Kampung Binjul Luar here was blown away by strong winds in the incident about 5.30pm.
His predicament is understandable.
According to daughter, Rosmita, 42, the man cherished the house as he had built it himself.
She said Idris and her mother, Jama Jusoh, lived in the house for decades and the storm had left him shattered.
"I happened to be visiting my parents when the storm struck, unleashing its fury on houses across several villages.
"During the incident, I was in the house when suddenly, I heard the sound of heavy rain and strong winds ripping off the roof at the living room and bathroom, in the blink of an eye," she told reporters at the house today.
Another victim, Mohd Husin Yaakob, 53, said the Proton Saga and Perodua Alza owned by him were badly damaged when a macang tree fell on them.
"When I reached home, it was raining heavily with strong winds. A few minutes later, I heard a crash and found the tree had crushed my cars," he said.
Meanwhile, Baling Social Welfare Department officer Shamsul Izrin Isahak said up till today, 36 houses were damaged at several villages, namely Kampung Binjul Luar, Kampung Thye Seng and Kampung Pantai Cicar.
"We will provide initial assistance after works to assess the damage are completed," he said during a survery of the affected villages. — Bernama