Tornado hits Pendang, destroys at least 10 houses and a school

At least 10 houses and a primary school were seriously damaged when a tornado lashed through Kampung Alor Besar here at about 4.30pm Tuesday.

A spokesman at the Pendang district police confirmed the incident, but there was no casualty reported.

"The extent of the damage from the cyclone has yet to be ascertained," he said when contacted.

A vilager, Mohd Hafiz Abu Bakar, 31, said he was working on his paddy field when he saw the twister heading towards his house before he rushed home to save his wife, Noor Rusila Aziz, 24, and their two children, Mohamad Irfan, two, and Nur Aisyah Dayana, four months.

"When I arrived home, I saw the roof sheets and wooden walls flew off. I'm just grateful that my wife and children are safe," he told Bernama.

Mohd Hafiz said 90 percent of his double-storey half-wooden half-brick house, including furniture and electrical appliances, were damaged in the incident.

Meanwhile, Noor Rusila said she was in the bedroom with her children when she heard loud gushing wind.

"I didn't dare to leave the house. I was so afraid, so I just stayed in the room with the children and surrendered to Mother Nature," she said.

Mohd Hafiz and his family are currently taking shelter at his parents' house.

Alor Besar Village Security and Development Committee chairman Norzizan Jaafar said the incident, which lasted 20 minutes, had also forced the villagers running helter skelter to escape the tornado.

"This is the first time a tornado ever hit the district. Sekolah Kebangsaan Alor Besar was badly damaged. Many houses were also severely damaged with roof sheets being flown away, while several other houses were affected by fallen trees," he said.