Tawau family cheats death as tree falls on their house

Tawau: A family of seven cheated death when a more than 30-year-old tree fell on their house in Kg Tanjung Batu Keramat, here, at 5.45am, Friday.

According to Kirman Maskah, 61, the incident happened in a blink of an eye right after their morning prayers.

"Prior to that, I woke my son up for school and while he went to the bathroom, the rest of us sat in the living room," he recalled, adding that there was no wind when the incident happened.

"Our study room, storeroom, roof, ceiling, walls and floors were damaged by the impact," said a shocked Kirman.

He was however thankful that his family members were safe.

According to him, things could have been worse if not for the earlier steps taken by the Civil Defence Department, which helped to cut down some branches last year.

"I lodged a complaint to them and asked for help chop down the tree.

However, they could only cut down some branches due to lack of manpower," he said.

Meanwhile, Kirman hoped for kind assistance from the people to repair his damaged house.

"I have no work since I got involved in an accident which caused me to lose the use of my left arm," he said, adding that Tanjung Batu Assemblywoman Datuk Hamisa Samat had paid them a visit.

-Daily Express