ISKANDAR PUTERI, 4 May 2018:
A pisang goreng (fried bananas) seller had a shock of his life when one of his customers – a heavily pregnant woman – was almost sucked into a landspout (a type of tornado) at Lima Kedai, Gelang Patah near here yesterday.
Recalling the incident, Mohammad Rashidi Abu Hashim said it was 4.40pm and he was about to close shop.
“The pregnant woman and her daughter were seeking shelter at my stall as it was drizzling. Suddenly there was a raging storm with heavy rain and the stall was hit by a landspout.
“The violent winds battered through the stall blowing away my cooking utensils and I was trying to hold onto my tent when I saw the woman struggling from being swept off her feet. I ran to her aid.”
Mohammad Rashidi, 31 said he was glad the mother and child were safe though he was injured on the left wrist and lost the day’s earning, adding that his stall and equipment were ruined in the storm.
Datuk Jason Teoh Sew Hock, a political candidate for Iskandar Puteri parliamentary seat, said:”With the cooperation of various parties we helped to remove the fallen trees and electrical poles.” He added that over 100 houses were damaged by the landspout which hit the area.
– Bernama