Storm destroys dozens of houses

Storm destroys dozens of houses

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: A storm accompanied by heavy rain
hit Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), late on Tuesday, damaging
dozens of homes and cutting off electricity to several parts of
the town.

No fatalities were reported as a result of the freak weather.

Local residents said on Wednesday that the storm, the first of
its kind in the province, blew off the roofs of houses and felled
several trees along some of the the town's main streets.

"This has never happened before. The storm and heavy rain
destroyed buildings and blew down trees," said Idris, a resident
of Kekalik village.

Dozens of residents from neighboring villages visited the
affected area to offer assistance. They helped reroof the damaged
homes and clear downed trees from the roads.

A staffer with the state electricity firm PLN, Jundi,
confirmed that the rain had led to a blackout in some parts of
the city, including the areas of Panji Tilar, Perumnas, Batu
Ringgit, Sekarbela and Pagesangan. - Antara