SOUTH BANGKA – A total of 241 houses in Bencah Village, South Bangka Regency were damaged by a tornado, Tuesday (7/12/2021). To ease the burden on the affected victims, PT Timah Tbk handed over assistance to repair residents' houses, Tuesday (14/12/2021).
This assistance is channeled to the Bencah Village Government which will later be distributed to people in need.
Head of Bencah Village, Heri Purnomo, said that as many as 100 houses were badly damaged, 100 houses were slightly damaged and 40 houses were moderately damaged.
He said that previously a tornado had also occurred in 2011, but it was not as severe as it is now. Therefore, this assistance from PT Timah Tbk is needed by the community.
His party appreciates PT Timah Tbk for helping the community, according to him, this is not the only time PT Timah Tbk has helped their citizens.
“As the village head, representing the residents, I am very grateful to PT Timah Tbk for helping the residents of Bencah Village. We are pleased with PT Timah Tbk's concern for the residents of Bencah Village," he said.
According to him, this assistance will be handed over to residents in need in the form of materials, because many residents have damaged their roofs.
"We will distribute it to residents who need it, for example to buy asbestos and others because the roofs of many residents' houses are damaged," he said.
Meanwhile, one of the victims of the tornado, Hasan Basri, said that he had just returned from the garden, at around 12.00 WIB, his house was hit by a tornado for about 20 seconds. This caused the asbestos of his house to be badly damaged.
“At the Zuhur call to prayer, I came home from the garden to take a shower, it only took me 5 minutes to get home, there was a tornado for about 20 seconds. After that, there was heavy rain in Bencah Village. The wind came from behind my house and caused the asbestos and wood for the roof to be badly damaged, leaving only the concrete of the house," he said.
"Therefore, my family and I fled to my parents-in-law's house because my house was no longer habitable," he continued.
He appreciated PT Timah Tbk who was quick to respond to help residents who were experiencing disasters.
“I thank PT Timah very much for helping many residents when they experience a disaster like this. PT Timah also always responds quickly when they see the condition of residents who are experiencing difficulties. Hopefully PT Timah will be more successful and always help all people who are experiencing difficulties. PT Timah is also increasingly successful and moving forward," he added.
Similarly, Sugian Suhaili said, due to the tornado which caused the fence to collapse, the asbestos and roof in the house were damaged.
“When there was a hurricane at first it made me panic but I saw that there was no problem in the house and my family was not hurt. I'm not too panicked about it. The fence and concrete surrounding my house collapsed, the asbestos and the roof inside my house were also damaged,” he said.
He is grateful to get help from PT Timah Tbk, so that it can ease his burden to repair his house.
“I hope that PT Timah Tbk will always provide the best for all citizens. PT Timah also always helps residents who are having difficulties in various situations they are experiencing," he concluded. (**)
