The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. on Mac Dinh Chi Street in District 1 as heavy rain and strong winds swept through the area. The tree more than 10 meters tall and of 30 cm in diameter was uprooted and crashed onto the road, trapping four people riding two motorcycles beneath its branches.
Bystanders rushed to the scene, lifting the branches to free the injured and immediately called for emergency services. The victims were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
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A motorbike is trapped under a fallen tree on Mac Dinh Chi Street, HCMC, Oct. 7, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Bang |
Dat, one of the victims, described the chaotic moments. "I was heading home when small branches and leaves hit the front of my motorbike, scratching my left arm. The branch landed on my helmet, but thankfully, I wasn't injured on the head," he said.
He also noted that strong winds and heavy traffic caused many others to narrowly avoid the falling tree.
Do Huu Cuong, Chairman of Da Kao Ward, confirmed that the other three victims, including a couple aged 45 and 47, were taken to Saigon General Hospital, while a six-year-old girl was transferred to Children’s Hospital 1.
"The victims sustained minor injuries, their health is stable, and they are being monitored at the hospital," he said.
The aftermath of a tree being uprooted in downtown HCMC, Oct. 7, 2024. Video by VnExpress/Tuan Viet
The incident is the latest in a series involving falling trees in HCMC. Over the past two months, three people have died and four others have been injured in similar cases.
HCMC currently manages over 200,000 trees along its roads and public spaces. Following recent accidents, the HCMC Greenery Park Co. Ltd has ramped up efforts to prune and remove trees showing signs of rot or disease. However, detecting issues such as hollow trunks or weakened trees remains challenging.
In light of the increasing number of tree-related accidents, several local authorities, including the HCMC Technical Infrastructure Management Center and various ward committees, have called for more aggressive tree-trimming efforts to prevent further incidents.