18 injured as freak storm brings down tent at PAS Muktamar

ALOR STAR: Eighteen people were injured including one who was unconscious in a storm which blew down the main tent at Kedah PAS Complex, the venue of the 63rd PAS annual general assembly (Muktamar) here late this evening.
Based on initial information, the incident at 7.25pm involved the tent housing the exhibition of the Haraki Entrepreneur Club (KU-Haraki).
Kedah Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre head Superintendent Mohd Naim Mat Jaaffar said the department received a call on the incident at 7.43pm.
He said based on initial reports, there were 18 injured victims with 13 of them referred to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital while six others were treated at the scene of the incident.
"The hospital has yet to provide any information on the level of injuries and identities of the victims.
"We were informed there were about 3,000 people at the location when the incident occurred and the victims were brought to the hospital by members of the public before firemen arrived," he said when contacted by Bernama.
As a result of the mishap, the Kedah Complex Fund Dinner scheduled at 8.30pm had to be cancelled , a PAS Muktamar Secretariat source said.
The tent area was sealed by the authorities and the media were not allowed into the location of the incident.
A heavy downpour coupled with strong winds at about 7.30pm swept in suddenly and it was over in 30 minutes. — Bernama