KUALA LUMPUR – Cleanup efforts are in full swing following yesterday’s freak storm, which caused significant damage to several residential colleges at the premises of Universiti Malaya and nearby areas.
This comes after several residential colleges including Raja Dr Nazrin Shah Residential College (KK12), 13th Residential College Universiti Malaya (KK13), and Dayasari Residential College (KK5), were reported as being affected by the heavy rain.
The storm’s intense winds uprooted numerous trees, which fell and smashed several vehicles parked on the university premises.
However, Universiti Malaya residential college administrative assistant Muhammad At-Taufiq Naziruddin, 33, said thankfully there were no lives lost.
“All damages will be handled by the Development and Estate Maintenance Department and the Student Affairs Department. We are currently estimating the extent of the damage.
“For now, we are not sure how many vehicles were affected by the incident, but we have already informed those affected to report the damages so we can estimate the total loss,” he said.
At-Taufiq said that the college management is now actively carrying out cleaning work so that the roads on the premises of the university can be safely used again.
“We are also conducting an assessment of the trees that need to be trimmed and those that have fallen to clear the damage.
“We will trim any trees that pose a risk to buildings and roads,” he said.
One of the affected students, Anis Adiba, 22, said she was in her hometown in Penang when the severe thunderstorm hit yesterday.
“I left my car at the college, at KK13. The place where I parked my car was quite far from the trees, but somehow a tree managed to hit it.
“For now, my car is still there, but they have already removed the fallen tree.
“They said the university would help cover the damages as they have insurance. I’m currently going through the process to claim for the loss,” she said.
Meanwhile, in Bukit Gasing, one affected resident, Joseph Adrik, 50, said he was in Langkawi for personal business when the incident occurred.
“The roof of my house was hit by a tree yesterday while I was not home. My wife called me to inform me about the incident.
“So far, no official authorities have come to clean up the mess. I had to call for the site cleanup myself,” he said.
Joseph said it took more than eight hours for the clean up process today, as he called the cleaning services at about 7am.
“The cable line was dragged down by the fallen trees, causing the electric pole to crack. I’m worried the pillar will collapse too.
“For now, I’m waiting for the excavator to come and remove the roots of the fallen trees,” he said.
Severe weather yesterday uprooted many trees, especially in Bangsar, Kerinchi, Petaling Jaya and the Universiti Malaya campus.
Several residents at Putra Ria apartments in Bangsar heaved a small sigh of relief as no one was harmed when roof sheets flew off the building yesterday, leaving a trail of destruction in the parking lot below.
The fallen roof crushed several cars and motorcycles parked below amid the strong winds and heavy rain. – May 26, 2024