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[PHOTOS] 6 Students Hurt After Freak Storms In Melaka Rip Off School Roof

The school students and staff have been given two days off to recuperate from the disaster.

Cover image via Twitter @anthraxxxx & Twitter @BukanWanted

A storm raged across Melaka yesterday morning, 11 August, ripping off the roof of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (SJKC) Malim and injuring six schoolchildren

According to The Star, the storm picked up around 10am while classes were in session and the entire school was terrified when the uncontrollable winds tore the roof away from the building.

The teachers said it caused a thunderous sound and the winds blew the roof onto the school's basketball court.

Harian Metro reported that six students suffered minor injuries as a result of falling ceiling debris while 22 others were observed for trauma at the school's hall.

The school principal assured that teachers will carry out psychological impact assessments with the affected students and have a talk with their parents after the catastrophe.

On Twitter, a video captured a scale of the damage:

The torrential rain and strong winds affected 35 more locations around Melaka, uprooting trees and causing major property damage around the city

Melaka Civil Defence Force (APM) director Lieutenant Colonel Effendy Ali told Bernama that more schools, roads, and housing areas in the Melaka Tengah and Alor Gajah districts were affected.

Pictures and videos shared by social media users showed the power of the storm and its aftermath.

Effendy, who is also the state Disaster Management Secretariat, said that authorities are currently working to clear the fallen trees and damage caused by the storm

"Work is ongoing to clear the trees and move them aside, involving several agencies including the APM, the Fire and Rescue Department, and the local authorities," he said.

"The heavy rain and storm caused many trees to be uprooted, and some fell on vehicles and houses, but there has been no reported loss of life so far," he was reported as saying.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Sulaiman Md Ali have since visited the school in Malim and approved a RM150,000 rescue fund to carry out immediate repair works.

The state education department has also given the students two days off to recuperate from the disaster.

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