Massive storm causes havoc in Tatau

A powerful storm packing heavy rain and strong winds early Monday wreaked havoc at Kampung Dagang Tatau, toppling trees and causing damage to propert

Oct 28, 2015

BINTULU: A powerful storm packing heavy rain and strong winds early Monday wreaked havoc at Kampung Dagang Tatau, toppling trees and causing damage to properties on its path. Fortunately, no injury was reported.

More than 30 homes including business premises and other building structures were damaged and hundreds of the residents were left without electricity when the storm hit the area around 2am.

Kakus assemblyman Datuk John Sikie Tayai, when met by reporters after attending an emergency meeting at Tatau District’s Office yesterday, said the exact number of people affected by the disaster was yet to be determined.

“But from what we can see here, I think more than 40 houses were affected; in Pekan Tatau, probably around 10 shophouses. This is the worst disaster that ever happened in Tatau,” he said.

He said various government departments and relevant agencies were on the ground to offer assistance to the victims.

“This morning we had a meeting at Tatau District’s Office together with other heads of departments to identify the best way to help the victims. All victims must lodge their reports, so that we will know how many of the residents were actually affected,” he said.

He said Tatau District’s Office had been turned into an operation centre where all affected victims could lodge their reports.

Only when the victims had been identified could the Welfare Department and other relevant departments determine the kind of assistance needed, he added.

He further said victims would be temporarily placed at Tatau Sports Centre where they would be provided with food and other necessities.

Meanwhile, he said the Public Works Department was currently determining the extent of damage to the houses so that the Welfare Department could provide appropriate assistance to the residents.

Tatau District Officer Nyurak Keti, on the other hand, said the operations room at the district’s office would be activated till late.

Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) general manager Rodziah Morshidi said they had sent a group of personnel with machinery and equipment needed to clean up the mess.

“After this, I believe a lot of building materials are required for repairing the houses and buildings,” she said.

She called on volunteers to contact Bintulu Resident’s Office, Tatau District’s Office or BDA if they wished to extend help to the victims.

Tatau Fire and Rescue Station was alerted about the disaster at 2.24am. From information obtained during the meeting earlier, 28 people in five houses at Taman Ting Park and 31 houses at Kampung Dagang Tatau with 287 people were affected.-- The Borneo Post