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