Ipoh: Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament M. Kulasegaran described the storm which swept through several areas around Bercham yesterday evening as unusual, leaving more than 200 houses across five locations affected. The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said the incident, which had never been reported before, was believed to have been caused by a landspout phenomenon.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kulasegaran noted that the severity of the storm was akin to a small typhoon, which was unprecedented in the region. In recent years, storms in the area have typically resulted in fallen trees or minor damage, but this event's impact was significantly more severe. During a visit to Dewan Senator Dato' Shamsuddin, Kampung Tersusun Tasek, Kulasegaran emphasized the importance of immediate assistance, which was being coordinated with the Social Welfare Department (JKM), village headmen, and relevant agencies.

Kulasegaran urged residents affected by the storm to file police reports to ensure efficient aid distribution. He also mentioned that the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister's Department had been contacted to provide contractors for immediate repair works. The primary concern among residents was the potential for continued rain, given the extensive roof damage many houses had sustained.

Meanwhile, Ipoh district police chief ACP Muhammad Najib Hamzah reported that as of this morning, 240 homes and eight business premises were affected by the storm, which hit at approximately 3 pm yesterday. Fortunately, there have been no reported casualties. Police have implemented patrols and restricted access to certain areas to ensure the security of the victims' properties, with entry managed by personnel on duty.

Muhammad Najib also indicated that 121 reports of damage and destruction had been received, though the total losses and number of affected individuals remain uncertain. Some homeowners are currently on vacation, and others have rented out their properties, complicating the assessment process.

In the meantime, Captain (PA) C. Sehgar, chief of operations for the Perak Civil Defence Force (APM) Special Team, stated that numerous reports of uprooted trees, damaged roofs, and fallen electricity poles were received yesterday. These issues have since been addressed, with clean-up operations being conducted by the Ipoh City Council (MBI) with APM's assistance. Nearly 200 houses have been impacted, and the APM is collaborating with various agencies and the local community to gather information and provide initial assistance where possible.