A weekend storm battered buildings in Banteay Meanchey province’s Thma Pouk district, leaving hundreds affected by damage to houses and schools across the area.

Deab Chhun, Thma Puok district deputy governor, said strong winds and rain swept through Komrou, Thmor Puok and Phoum Thmey communes at about 1:30pm on Sunday.

But while the storm passed within an hour, it still managed to cause damage.

According to Chhun, 98 houses and six schools across the district were seriously damaged by the weather. Among them, 20 houses and four schools were almost completely destroyed.

Trees were also uprooted and a police station in Thma Puok commune sustained major damage to its roof.

The silver lining in the destruction, Chhun said, was that no one was injured.

“No one got hurt in the storm. It is very lucky that it occurred on Sunday when there is no class,” he said.

After the storm died down, police and authorities from Banteay Meanchey and Thma Puok district began efforts to repair the damage, Chhun said, adding that 70 houses and two schools have already been repaired for use.

With four schools still out of action, some children across the district were forced to attend classes at different institutions yesterday. Others had no classes at all.

“[Yesterday] some of the students had no class. Some of the students were put together in big classes [with people of all abilities] in a small room,” Chhun said.

Kheng Sum, Banteay Meanchey provincial police chief, told the Post that police forces helped to repair 66 houses yesterday.

“[This morning], the police forces will continue to repair the houses and schools for people and students to live in and use,” he said.

Storms have destroyed hundreds of homes across eight provinces so far this year. Meanwhile, lightning strikes have so far killed at least six people and severely injured four.