Nearly 500 police reports lodged after Bercham storm

PETALING JAYA: Nearly 500 police reports have been lodged following the storm that hit Bercham in Ipoh, Perak, on Friday.

Ipoh police chief Najib Hamzah said police had received 492 reports related to the storm as of 8am today, and there is no deadline limiting when victims may lodge reports.

Najib said police have closed five zones within the disaster area and restricted movement in and out to prevent theft or break-ins at the victims’ homes, Bernama reported.

He said authorities are allowing residents to enter and leave to clean up their homes, including at night.

“We will enforce stricter control at night because some affected areas, including Anjung Bercham, are still without electricity,” he said.

He said the extent of losses has not yet been determined.

Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran yesterday said the storm was unusually severe, affecting more than 200 homes across five areas in Bercham.

Among the affected areas are Anjung Bercham Utara, Taman Mujur, Kampung Bercham, Kampung Tersusun Tasek, Taman Pusat Bercham and Taman Indah Sakti.