MELAKA: Lightning struck the minaret of a 169-year-old mosque at Serkam Pantai here, causing damage to the heritage site.

       The mosque deputy chairman Zakaria Abu Bakar said 30 members of the congregation were performing morning prayers when the incident occurred at 6.45am on Monday (June 20).

       He said the impact of the lightning caused debris weighing almost 2kg to fall on the main prayer room while the roof of the mosque was also damaged.

       “Luckily, all 30 people inside had just completed the prayers and had moved to the entrance of the mosque at the time of the incident at 6.45am,”he said when interviewed here on Monday (June 20).

       Zakaria said the mosque was built in 1853 and is currently under the purview of Melaka Museum Corporation (Perzim).

       He said damage was visible and rainwater had spilled into the mosque as well as other debris fragments.

       “The incident also caused damage to a car belonging to one of the congregation members,” he said.

       Zakaria added that the mosque committee will wait for Perzim’s advice on the remedial works as it is classified as a historical site.