Strong winds wreak havoc in Miri

MIRI: Strong winds uprooted several trees by the roadside here early Thursday morning.

The strong winds also ripped the roof of the Miri Central Market near Yu Lan Plaza and the fish market next to the oldest Chinese temple in the city, and the central police station.

Strong winds hit the city around 5am, startling about 100 traders at the central market who were just starting their business.

One of them said the strong winds came without any warning, cutting the electricity supply in the process.

“I am still shocked with what had happened this morning, and luckily no one was injured in the incident.”

Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting went to the affected sites soon after he arrived from Kuala Lumpur at 9.45am yesterday.

With him were Miri Resident Sherrina Hussaini, MCC secretary Morshidi Frederick, deputy district police chief Supt Stanley Jonathan Ringgit, Eric Chin a personal assistant to Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin, councilors and community leaders.

Ting, who is also chairman of SUPP Piasau branch, expressed his concern after he saw the extent of damage at the fish market.

“Thanks God, no one was injured in the incident,” he said.

He told the media that the Resident who heads the local disaster and relief management committee would brief Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah who is also the chairman of the State Disaster and Relief Management Committee on the damages caused by the strong winds.

He was also told by the Resident that the committee’s operation room would be activated by next week.

He thanked the Fire and Rescue Department for clearing the fallen trees from the roads and also personnel from Sarawak Energy Berhad for assisting in work to reconnect the electricity supply.

Meanwhile, the MCC has also deployed contractors to repair damaged properties.