Old tree falls on busy road in KL, injuring two

Summary

• An old tree collapses on Jalan Pudu in Kuala Lumpur during peak hour, injuring a 39-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl, and causing major traffic disruptions.

• The incident highlights recurring issues with falling trees, with past cases in Penang and Kuala Lumpur resulting in fatalities and significant property damage.

An old tree collapsed onto Jalan Pudu during peak traffic hour this morning, injuring two women and causing significant disruptions.

The incident occurred at around 10.44am in front of the Swiss Garden Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, according to China Press.

The injured, a 39-year-old woman and a 15-year-old girl were rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, according to a spokesperson from the Fire and Rescue Department.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene to conduct rescue operations, while Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) staff assisted in clearing the debris.

The fallen tree blocked both directions of Jalan Pudu, forcing motorists to use alternative routes via Jalan Hang Tuah, Jalan Dewan Bahasa, and Jalan Maharajalela.

Recurring problem

This incident highlights ongoing concerns regarding the maintenance of aged trees in urban areas.

In September last year, a tragic case in George Town, Penang, saw uprooted trees crush a car, killing a man and his daughter, both tourists from China.

Similarly, on May 7 last year, heavy rain and strong winds caused multiple tree falls in Kuala Lumpur. One uprooted tree claimed the life of a man, damaged 17 vehicles, and struck the monorail track on Jalan Sultan Ismail.

According to the Fire and Rescue Department, between January and July last year, 2,575 emergency calls related to fallen trees were recorded, with Selangor registering the highest number of cases (441), followed by Perak (321) and Sarawak (264).

These incidents led to eight fatalities and 27 injuries, sparking urgent calls for better tree management in urban areas.

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