Storm Wreaks Havoc In Kuala Belait
By Liza Mohd

Kuala Belatit - Strong winds and heavy rain wreaked havoc in Kuala Belait and Seria for the past few days. They also caused an increase in traffic accidents in the districts.

Stall operators at Tudong Saji, Belait, lost hundreds of dollars when their stall equipments, such as barbeque/grilling pit, water dispenser, ice-grinder machine and gas burner, were damaged in the wake of a fast-moving storm, which reportedly occured around 6.15 pm on Friday, when Muslims in Belait are about to break their fast.

In the incident, stall operators and their workers took shelter in the Tudong Saji building as they tearfully watched their tents falling apart, tables turned upside down and their food stuffs being blown away.

Stall operator Awang Ahad Selamat said he suffered a loss of over B$200 as his gas burner, furnitures and fixtures were damaged. He added that this is the second storm to hit Kuala Belait, the first one being a minor on the first day of Ramadan with no major destruction.

A fourteen year-old girl, Siti Nuramalina Mohd Saffari, was also injured in thestorm when she was struck on the back by tent handles and canvas as she sought shelter from the fierce winds and heavy downpour.

Her mother, Dayang Wan Zauriana Julaihi, rushed Siti Nuramalina to the hospital where she was treated for minor bruises.

Firefighters and police personnels were later called to the site to control the situation.

To lend a helping hand, an officer from the Belait Municipal Department said new tents have been set up to accommodate 148 operators registered to run the Ramadhan bazaar at Tudong Saji.

However, a number of stall operators ' took matters into their own hands by moving their furnitures and equipments - inside the Tudong Saji Building, despite being informed that the building is inadequate to accommodate all stall operators.

A disagreement ensued yesterday morning when Belait Municipal staff took action by moving out equipments of a stall operator from the building back to the parking lot. The matter was subsequently brought to police's attention. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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