JITRA: A mini-tornado known as a “landspout” struck three villages in Mukim Jeram, Tunjang, here on Sunday afternoon, damaging up to 20 homes, uprooting scores of trees and causing panic among residents.
Almost two dozen houses in the villages of Kampung Pida 4 Deli, Kampung Permatang Keriang and Kampung Gurindam suffered severe damage, with some seeing their roofs blown away, Bernama reported.
The freak meteorological phenomenon occurred at about 4pm during a violent thunderstorm.
A 1-minute and 12-second video of the incident, captured by a terrified resident, shows the landspout hovering above a paddy field under a dark sky; and later, over the centre of a densely-built village.
Nurul Fahana Shahidan, 30, was watching television, while her 1-year-old son was sleeping in his crib, when the roof of their house began to detach itself.
“It happened in the blink of an eye. Thank God I managed to grab my son and bring him to safety, before the ceiling collapsed and almost hit us,” she said.
Nurul and other residents affected by the landspout were later visited by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, who handed out aid to meet their immediate needs.
“After this, there will be other aid and assistance for the victims from the Kedah Zakat Board and the Social Welfare Department.
“I have also asked the relevant parties to assess the damage so that repair work can be done,” he said.