GEORGE TOWN: Three people narrowly escaped death when a huge tree crashed onto their car, forcing thousands of motorists to take alternative routes.
The tree crushed the front section of the vehicle but stopped just short of the cabin, where the trio were seated, sparing them serious injury.
Loh Kok Kim, 66, Lee Geok Suan, 68, and their nine-year-old granddaughter Emily Loh Tze Ying were travelling along the four-lane Jalan Macalister at 9am yesterday when an Angsana tree fell across the road.
It trapped the car underneath and brought traffic to a standstill along the busy stretch.
The tree, estimated to be 90 years old, bore a Penang Island City Council (MBPP) tag.
The Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Force and MBPP personnel rushed to the scene to clear the tree, while the trio were taken to hospital.
MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said about 30% of the Angsana tree roots were found to have deteriorated.
He said the tree was 28m tall with a diameter of about two metres and it had 40% of its cavity at its trunk base.
“The weakened root system and hollowed trunk base, combined with chronic soil compaction, limited root space and nearby infrastructure upgrading works, had significantly increased its risk of failing.”
Identified as pterocarpus indicus (Angsana), the tree was tagged JM 2274.
He said that many trees in the George Town area are between 70 and 120 years old.
“We use satellite-based remote sensing technology and physical on-site inspections to determine their health.
“Through these inspections, MBPP takes steps to rehabilitate trees that can still be saved, while trees that cannot be salvaged will have to be felled,” he said.
Rajendran said MBPP’s assessment of mature and old trees along Jalan Macalister in 2024 had resulted in 13 trees being identified and felled.
“The last maintenance work on the trees along Jalan Macalister was carried out on Jan 29 this year.”
He said a contractor has been instructed to expedite work to reduce the height of trees and fell those considered at risk of falling along Jalan Macalister, based on assessments by arborists.
