Bercham Storm Damages 248 Homes in Ipoh, No Deaths Reported as Police Coordinate Recovery

KUALA LUMPUR,June, 2026 — A storm accompanied by heavy rain damaged an estimated 248 homes across several residential areas in Bercham, Ipoh, but police confirmed that no deaths were reported in the incident.

The Ipoh District Police Headquarters said the storm struck areas under the jurisdiction of the Bercham police station at about 3.30pm on June 19, affecting a stretch of around 1.3 square kilometres.

Ipoh district police chief ACP Muhammad Najib Hamzah said initial monitoring identified five affected residential areas: Bercham Idaman, Anjung Bercham Utara, Kampung Bercham, Taman Pusat Bercham and Kampung Tersusun Tasek.

Police said that as of the latest update, no reports involving loss of life had been received. Residents affected by the storm were advised to follow instructions from the authorities and prioritise the safety of themselves and their families.

The storm caused significant property damage, with many homes suffering torn roofs, structural damage and disruption to basic utilities. Earlier reports said fierce winds and heavy rain swept through parts of Ipoh on June 19, damaging more than 200 homes across seven residential areas and triggering emergency response teams on the ground.

Among the early reported locations were Dataran Tasek Timur 6, Hala Tasek Timur 1, Lorong Bercham 19, Hala Tasek Timur 34, Tasek Timur 15, Lintasan Tasek Timur 1 and Lintasan Tasek Timur 3. Dataran Tasek Timur 6 was among the worst-hit locations, with 177 houses reported affected in the earlier assessment.

The storm also brought down several electricity poles, prompting Tenaga Nasional Berhad to temporarily shut off power supply in affected areas as a safety measure.

Following the incident, authorities launched clean-up and recovery operations involving multiple agencies. Police coordinated with the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Ipoh City Council and the senior penghulu of Mukim Tanjung Rambutan to clear affected areas and restore access to main roads.

The Ipoh City Council deployed emergency teams at about 5.05pm to remove fallen trees and debris that were blocking roads and posing risks to residents.

A temporary evacuation centre was also designated at Dewan Datuk Ahmad Said, while the Kinta district office instructed all agencies to remain on alert after more than an hour of continuous heavy rain.

Authorities also urged homeowners whose properties were damaged to lodge reports at the Bercham police station or the nearest police station. These reports are important for documentation, damage assessment and possible aid distribution.

The situation later led police to seal off several storm-hit zones to prevent theft and house break-ins. Malay Mail reported that police restricted movement in and out of five disaster-affected areas in Bercham as part of security control after the storm.

Muhammad Najib said residents were still given some flexibility to enter or leave affected areas, especially those cleaning up their homes. However, police said movement would be controlled more strictly at night because some affected areas, including Anjung Bercham, remained without electricity.

Police said they would monitor and verify individuals entering the affected homes at night to prevent theft disguised as clean-up activity. This measure was introduced because many homes were damaged and some remained exposed after roof structures were torn away.

As of 8am on June 21, police had received 492 storm-related reports through Op Bencana, and no deadline had been set for victims to lodge reports. The total losses had not yet been determined.

Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament M. Kulasegaran, who is also Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department for Law and Institutional Reform, described the storm as unusual and said the incident was believed to have been caused by a landspout phenomenon.

Kulasegaran said the incident was different from previous storms in the area, which had usually caused fallen trees or minor damage. He said the latest storm had a stronger impact, with damage resembling the effects of a small typhoon.

He also said immediate assistance was being channelled to affected residents through the cooperation of the Social Welfare Department, village heads and relevant agencies. He urged residents to file police reports to help facilitate the aid distribution process.

Kulasegaran added that the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department had been contacted to arrange contractors for urgent repair works, especially because many homes suffered roof damage and residents were concerned about further rain.

The storm has raised concern over weather-related risks in residential areas, especially when strong winds strike densely populated neighbourhoods. Roof damage, fallen trees and electricity disruptions can create secondary risks even when no deaths are reported.

The incident also shows the importance of coordinated disaster response. Police, APM, JBPM, TNB, MBI and local administrative officers were all involved in restoring basic safety and clearing affected areas after the storm.

For affected families, the immediate focus is on safety, temporary shelter, insurance documentation, repair works and access to government or welfare assistance. Police reports will likely play an important role in confirming damage for future claims or aid applications.

The sealing of affected zones also reflects the need to protect damaged homes while residents are still recovering. In disaster situations, open roofs, exposed belongings and electricity disruptions can increase the risk of theft or unauthorised entry.

Although no deaths were reported, the scale of damage in Bercham makes the incident a serious local disaster. With hundreds of homes affected, recovery may take time, especially for households facing major roof or structural damage.

Authorities are expected to continue monitoring the affected areas, coordinating repairs and assessing total losses. Residents have been reminded to remain alert, follow official instructions and avoid entering unsafe structures until checks are completed.

the Bercham storm stands as one of Ipoh’s more serious recent weather-related incidents, damaging hundreds of homes but, fortunately, causing no reported deaths.

The development is suitable for Update News because it involves a current disaster response, storm damage affecting hundreds of homes, police confirmation of no fatalities and ongoing recovery operations in Perak.