Strong winds damage houses

MEDAN, North Sumatra: A number of houses were damaged as strong winds swept through a residential area in Pancurbatu subdistrict, Deliserdang regency, North Sumatra, villagers and officials said on Friday.

The wind, locally known as Puting Beliung, traveling at a speed of between 50 kilometers and 60 km per hour, hit the area on Thursday night when local residents were asleep.

No injuries or casualties were reported.

However, the roofs of several buildings, including the Pancurbatu Police station, blew off and some billboards collapsed.

Panut Ginting, a villager from Pancurbatu, said the weather was very bad on Thursday afternoon with thick cloud blanketing the area and claps of thunder heard before the wind hit.

"The Puting Beliung wind was accompanied by heavy rain. Although no one was injured some houses were damaged," he said.

North Sumatra has been seeing extremely high rainfall in September, which could trigger flooding in several parts of the province.

The Medan Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) said the rain would be accompanied by strong wind and lightening. --JP