Kota Damansara 'Mini Tornado': Viral Video Shows Car Lifted at Toll Plaza

A violent thunderstorm on the evening of 13 October 2026 produced one of the most-shared videos in Malaysia this week. At a toll plaza in the Kota Damansara area, a sudden gust lifted a car off the road and threw it into the car next to it while motorists queued in heavy rain.

What the Kota Damansara video shows

The main clip, shared on Threads by user @zhaeim, shows rain and spray whipping across the toll lanes before one car is lifted and pushed into another. A second set of clips, filmed from a block of flats in Kota Damansara, shows a red car being shoved across a car park by the wind as trees bend over a playground. Many netizens described it as a puting beliung, the Malay word for a whirlwind.

Was anyone hurt?

Early reports did not know whether anyone was hurt. Later reports said both cars suffered minor body damage and no one was injured.

Was it really a tornado? What MetMalaysia says

MetMalaysia attributed the event to active thunderstorm clouds, with unstable, humid air and weak winds blowing from several directions. That mix can produce a short-lived, very local whirlwind under a strong storm cell, which is why people online have been calling it a "mini tornado". Some weather watchers have argued it was a gustnado rather than a true tornado, but for drivers caught underneath it the effect is the same: a sudden, powerful gust.

MetMalaysia also said the monsoon transition phase began on 9 October and will last until late October. Expect more afternoon and evening thunderstorms in the coming days, with a risk of flash floods and fallen trees.

Driving in a storm: what to do

If you are caught in a violent storm, slow down and leave extra space to the car in front. Avoid stopping under trees, billboards or loose signboards. If visibility drops sharply, pull over somewhere safe and wait with your hazard lights on. Check MetMalaysia's weather warnings before evening drives during the monsoon transition.

Does car insurance cover storm damage?

Not always. As motoring site paultan.org points out, a standard comprehensive policy usually does not cover natural disasters. For that you need the Special Perils add-on, which covers flood, storm, tempest, landslide and similar events. It is priced as a small percentage of your car's sum insured, so check your policy before the stormy season.

Earlier this month the big weather story was the haze: see our report on unhealthy API readings across Malaysia, and follow the latest Malaysia news here.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What happened at the Kota Damansara toll plaza?

During a violent thunderstorm on the evening of 13 October 2026, a strong gust lifted a car and threw it into another car while vehicles queued at a toll plaza in the Kota Damansara area. Reports say both cars had minor damage and no one was injured.

Q2: Was the Kota Damansara storm a tornado?

MetMalaysia said the event was caused by active thunderstorm clouds in unstable, humid conditions with weak winds from several directions. People online called it a mini tornado or puting beliung, while some weather watchers said it was a gustnado.

Q3: Does car insurance cover storm damage in Malaysia?

A standard comprehensive policy usually does not cover natural disasters such as storms and floods. You need the Special Perils add-on, which covers flood, storm, tempest, landslide and similar events.