Tornado wrecks havoc in Semarang

Tornado wrecks havoc in Semarang

Residents assess the damage after a tornado damaged 150
houses in the district of Tembalang in Semarang, Central Java
late on Saturday afternoon.

Three people were injured and at least five of the houses in
the Sendangguwo and Tandang neighborhoods were destroyed, while
many others were seriously damaged as the tornado ripped off
their roofs.

Tohirin aka Jayeng, 40, a resident whose house was leveled at
the Sendang Asri housing complex, said the winds hit about 4 p.m.

"I saw this black wind coming and becoming pointed into a
funnel. It suddenly approached and hit my house," he said.

Tohirin's wife, two children and mother-in law were in the
kitchen at the time when the tornado known locally as "Ulur-ulur"
passed over their home, destroying the guest and bedrooms.

"It was as if the wind had lifted my home up," Tohirin said.

The disaster also destroyed the walls of four neighboring
houses.

Many other homes in the area lost their roofs and residents
and neighbors had started rebuilding on Sunday.

Tembalang district head Dayat said the tornado also damaged a
small mosque and felled power lines and about 50 trees. His
office was still collecting data on the damage, he said.

Villagers said the tornado was the worst to hit the district
in living memory.

Semarang Mayor Sukawi Sutarip and his wife, Sinto Sukawi,
visited the scene on Sunday, accompanied by senior officials.

"We will provide the victims with assistance immediately," the
mayoral spokesman Achyani said -- Suherdjoko/The Jakarta
Post/Semarang