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Ipoh freak storm leaves CNY reunion dinner plans in ruins

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The residents have sought shelter at a relief centre or are staying with relatives until the damage to their homes is repaired.

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Free Malaysia Today
Residents and workers cleaning up the damage at a housing area in Ipoh today. (Bernama pic)

IPOH:
The victims of a freak storm here will have to forego the traditional Chinese New Year family reunion dinner this year because of the damage caused to over 200 houses in several areas here.

The victims said their houses were badly damaged and had their roof tiles blown away by the strong winds in the incident at about 6pm yesterday.

Even sadder, the situation forced some residents to take shelter at a relief centre in Dewan Tawas, while other victims chose to stay with relatives.

Ten Chee Kin, 45, said he worked in Kuala Lumpur and had returned home to Kampung Tawas here to celebrate Chinese New Year with relatives and friends.

The storm and the damage it caused had dampened his spirit to celebrate the festive occasion.

“The roof is damaged badly and needs to be replaced.

“I don’t want to celebrate Chinese New Year or have a reunion dinner. I just want to take care of the house,” he said when met at the relief centre.

Another victim, Lee Cheng Man, 23, and his mother, Cheah Kim, 58, are taking shelter in a nearby church temporarily until their home of 20 years is repaired.

“There is no reunion dinner this evening. All our plans for the Chinese New Year celebration have been ruined because this house is usually the gathering place with relatives.

“However, most importantly, my mother and I survived the incident although the roof is gone and the house destroyed,” he said.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, the Universiti Malaysia Perlis student said all equipment, including his computer, were also destroyed in the storm.

A total of 219 houses were damaged during a tornado-like freak storm that hit Taman Desa Seri Chepor, Kampung Tawas, Taman Tasek Damai and Kampung Seri Klebang Tambahan Jaya, leaving most of the Chinese community in Kampung Tawas, who will be celebrating Chinese New Year tomorrow, in despair.

Several trees were uprooted while some electric poles collapsed or were damaged.

However, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.

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