Matang:Larut More than 35 houses suffered damage due to a storm accompanied by strong winds in various areas within the Larut, Matang, and Selama district today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the district's Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) officer, Captain (PA) Ahmad Fakhrur Razi Md Noor, reported that the incident was first communicated to his department at approximately 3.30 pm, following a report from the Matang Subdistrict Penghulu Office.

Initial investigations revealed that heavy rain and strong winds, persisting for about an hour from 3 pm, resulted in severe weather conditions. These conditions caused roofs of several houses to be blown off and uprooted trees in villages around the Matang subdistrict.

Ahmad Fakhrur confirmed that 12 APM personnel, aided by three operational vehicles and five chainsaws, were dispatched to the affected areas to conduct monitoring and clean-up operations. These efforts were carried out in collaboration with other agencies, including the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Taiping Municipal Council (MPT), and the Public Works Department (JKR).

Residents affected by the storm have been temporarily relocated to the relief center at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Matang, coordinated by the Social Welfare Department (JKM). Ahmad Fakhrur noted that the number of displaced individuals might increase and encouraged those affected to seek assistance at the SK Matang PPS.

Earlier in the day, Mohd Nasrul Menhat, the district's Disaster Management Committee chairman, announced the opening of the SK Matang PPS at 6.30 pm in response to the storm.