Two injured as falling trees cause havoc in HCM City

September 05, 2024 - 09:37
At around 3 pm on Wednesday, the storm and high winds caused many trees in Districts 1, 5, Tân Bình, and Bình Thạnh to topple.
A tree uprooted on Calmette Street in District 1, falling on a car. VNA/VN Photos

HCM CITY – A heavy rainstorm, accompanied by strong gusts of wind, swept through HCM City on Wednesday evening, uprooting trees and injuring two people.

Around 3 p.m., the storm brought down several trees in Districts 1, 5, Tân Bình, and Bình Thạnh.

In Bình Thạnh District's Thanh Đa residential area, an ancient tree was uprooted and fell across the road, injuring a woman crossing the street and damaging a nearby parked car. The incident also caused a power outage in the area.

An uprooted tree on Trường Sa Street in District 3.

Strong winds also caused a tree at the Huỳnh Mẫn Đạt - An Dương Vương intersection in District 5 to snap, with a falling branch striking a motorcyclist and injuring the rider.

Rescue teams and medical personnel promptly arrived at the scene to administer first aid and transport the injured to the hospital.

On Calmette Street in District 1, a fallen tree hit a moving car, but fortunately, no one was injured. Nearby, at the Pasteur - Lê Duẩn intersection, another branch fell, blocking traffic.

Authorities quickly pruned and cleared the area, restoring traffic flow.

Officers and soldiers of the armed forces in Ward 13, District 3, clear the scene of a fallen tree on Trường Sa Street.

Lê Đình Quyết, Head of the Forecasting Department at the Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Station, reported that Typhoon Yagi's impact brought heavy rains to HCM City and the southeastern region.

The forecast predicts heavy downpours over the next three days, particularly in the afternoon and evening. Thunderstorms may bring tornadoes, lightning, and strong gusts of wind.

In early August, a 10-metre branch fell on elderly exercisers in Tao Đàn Park, killing two people and injuring three, despite clear weather conditions.

The Department of Transport noted that HCM City has over 122,650 trees, with 6,000 requiring urgent care. — VNS

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