A landspout which hit several areas in the district of Kota Setar yesterday evening, damaging 71 houses and a rural clinic, has left residents traumatised by the incident.

Lasting between 10 and 15 minutes, the 5pm landspout struck Kampung Mergong Hilir, Kampung Batin, Kampung Sungai Baru, Taman Inang and Taman Mergong Jaya.

Housewife Rohaya Md Saad, 37, from Kampung Mergong Hilir, said she and son, Mohamad Azim Mohd Irwan, 10, were inside the house when they heard a neighbour screaming that a landspout was heading towards them from the direction of the padi fields.

She said, within minutes, the roof of her house was ripped off. Her neighbours too, found their roofs blown away.

"My son and I held on to the pillar of our house for fear we would not be knocked off our feet by the strong wind," she told Bernama at the scene here today.

She said as a result of the damaged roof, her furniture and electrical items were damaged by the rain, estimating her total losses at RM10,000.

"Currently, my family is forced to stay in the house because we have nowhere else to go. Tonight, we will sleep in the front part of the house where the roof is still intact," said Rohaya.

Meanwhile, Che Tom Abdullah, 65, hopes for public assistance to repair the roof of her house which was badly damaged by the landspout.

"Please help me. I cannot afford the repairs to my house on my own. How much longer will I need to stay at my sibling's house," said Che Tom who has stayed at her house for the past 20 years.

Some villagers, however, have decided to use early contributions from various quarters to carry out minor repairs to their homes.

Md Saad Md Isa, 59, from Kampung Batin here said donations from various parties, including the Bakar Bata State Assemblyman Service Centre would be used wisely.

"It will take time to get help from the social welfare department, so I'm taking the initiative to change parts of the roof which were not badly damaged, using money that I have been given.

"If I wait any longer, other items such as furniture and electrical goods will be ruined by the rain," he noted.

A survey by Bernama found several government departments and agencies such as the civil defence department, Rela and army helping the villagers with cleaning up their homes and removing fallen trees.

Meanwhile, Kedah Umno liaison deputy chairman Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said families affected by the whirlwind would receive aid soon to lessen their burden.

The domestic trade, cooperatives and consumerism deputy minister said the Kota Setar District Office would disburse between RM300 and RM1,000 to victims based on the condition of their homes.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting victims in Kampung Batin today.

- Bernama