SIBU: A car was badly damaged when it was hit by a falling tree due to strong winds following heavy rain and thunderstorms that created havoc here last Friday evening.
The incident happened in the Sibu Town Square area at Jalan Sanyan and had already been shared on the social media.
It was around 5pm that heavy downpours and strong winds started. It lasted for an hour and was worsened by thunderstorms.
Several trees were also seen falling including the one that hit a car parked in the area as aforesaid.
Through the viralled picture, the roof of the car involved was smashed, but fortunately there were no one inside the parked vehicle.
Meanwhile, Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) Chairman Clarence Ting Ing Horh when contacted today, said his office was informed about the incident of a fallen tree that hit the car.
According to him, the SMC will be responsible for the incident as well as the damage to the car as it happened within its administrative area.
“The owner of the car has contacted us to claim compensation for the damage caused by the tree.
“Our insurance company is arranging the process with respect to the car owner. Such a procedure is normal when private property is damaged by nature located in the local authority’s administrative area,” he said.
Ting also expressed regret over what happened and will take action to ensure that such things do not recur in the future.
As a result, he said, the SMC had instructed its contractors to cut branches and tall trees in its administrative area to prevent such incidents from recurring and threatening public safety.
“There are many areas of our administration that have tall trees as well as branches that are quite dangerous and we have instructed our contractors to cut them down immediately as well,” Ting explained.
