Violent Storm Forces Closure of Kuching Metrocity Night Market After Severe Infrastructure Damage

KUCHING, Aug 16 — Heavy rain and a violent storm forced the closure of the N6 Metrocity 2 Youth Night Market in Kuching after severe weather tore through the site, destroying vendor canopies and collapsing key site infrastructure during peak weekend business hours.

The sudden squall struck while the popular night market was filled with visitors and traders, triggering panic as high winds dismantled heavy canopy structures and sent debris flying across the grounds. Out of approximately 300 operating trader lots, more than 40 were severely impacted, with vendors suffering extensive losses to sales equipment, merchandise, and shelter.

Mohamad Faisal, a 42-year-old vendor who has operated at the night market for a decade, described the terrifying sequence of events as traders ran for safety.

“I was walking to my site, and I didn’t dare to approach. I and other traders ran away because I was afraid that other canopies would hit us. The situation at that time was very dangerous because the canopies were flying in front and behind, and there was even a canopy that was flying in front of the people,” Faisal recalled.

Faisal estimated his personal losses at nearly RM2,000 due to broken trading equipment and damaged goods.

The storm also inflicted heavy damage on shared venue infrastructure. N6 Metrocity 2 Youth Night Market Deputy Chairman Hamzah Hassan confirmed that the storm was the most severe natural disaster incident to hit the location to date.

“This incident is the worst that has happened. Apart from the damaged, broken and blown away canopy of the traders, public facilities and infrastructure of the association such as the main stage, management office and electricity supply cables also collapsed and suffered damage,” Hamzah said.

Hamzah explained that the financial blow to individual hawkers is substantial, with canopy replacement costs alone ranging between RM2,000 and RM5,000 per lot depending on size and structural frame, excluding lost stock and damaged appliances such as stoves and liquid containers. In light of the destruction, night market management has called on relevant government ministries, elected representatives, and local cooperatives to provide financial relief and support to aid affected hawkers in rebuilding their livelihoods.

The destructive weather aligned with an official thunderstorm warning issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia), which alerted residents to severe rain and strong winds across several Sarawak districts, including Kuching, Serian, Siburan, Samarahan, Simunjan, Kapit, and Song.

–NMT