PENDANG: Heavy rain and strong winds helped form a landspout that created havoc in Kampung Alor Besar here and Taman Sri Kota in Kuala Kedah this evening.
Several houses in the village and SK Alor Besar building were damaged in the incident that occured around 4pm.
A source at the Meteorology department confirmed that it was a landspout which can occur in instances of strong winds.
"A landspout is similar to a waterspout. The only difference is that it occurs over land," he said.
The school’s computer lab and another building within the compound were damaged.
Witnesses said the spout resembled a twister swirling across padi fields.
In ALOR STAR, in a less than one minute storm that occured in Taman Sri Kota, five houses had their roofs ripped off.
However, no one was injured during the raging wind which started at about 4.30pm.
An odd job worker, Saw Teong Heang, 52, said he was about to reverse his car when he heard a loud noise and saw his roof being ripped off.
“It happened so fast and I immediately shouted to my family who were inside the house to find a safe place to hide,” he said.
A salesman, Ooi Pu King, 45, said he could do nothing, but watch in horror as the storm ripped off his house roof.
“I was preparing to hold a special prayer when the storm ripped off the roof my home. I am thankful that no one was injured in the freak storm,” he said.