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Fallen tree at Tiong Bahru Road snarls traffic, crushes car and damages sheltered walkway

Fallen tree at Tiong Bahru Road snarls traffic, crushes car and damages sheltered walkway

A fallen tree on Tiong Bahru Road crushed a car and snarled traffic. (Images: Septian Hartono, Facebook/buses[in]gapore)

SINGAPORE: A large tree fell across Tiong Bahru Road on Friday (Mar 3) evening, snarling traffic and damaging a sheltered walkway. 

A video taken by CNA reader Dorothea Wong showed a line of SBS Transit buses waiting behind the fallen tree. The 28-year-old said the incident happened at about 5.30pm. 

"It was a super loud sound. I jumped and thought to myself it must have been a car crash. But when I stood to my feet and looked out of the window, I was stunned to see that a tree had fallen across the two-way street."

Responding to CNA's queries, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said on Friday night that the tree had been uprooted and damaged a sheltered walkway and a car. 

"For public safety, the affected areas of the road and sheltered walkway were cordoned off while clearance of the tree was in progress," HDB said, adding that the road was opened to traffic by about 9.45pm.

"We are investigating the cause of the incident," it said.

SBS Transit said in a tweet at about 6pm that eight of its bus services were being diverted from the area due to a fallen tree, with five bus stops skipped. 

In response to CNA's queries, vice president of customer experience and communications at SBS Transit Grace Wu said: "Due to a fallen tree along Tiong Bahru Road, buses operating Services 5, 16, 33/33A, 63, 851, 122, 123/123M and 195/195A are being held up as the road is impassable. Prolonged delays are expected for these services." 

Mrs Wu added that SBS Transit was working closely with the Traffic Police to help guide buses out of the area. 

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told CNA that it received a call for assistance at about 5.35pm on Friday. One person was taken to Singapore General Hospital.

A large tree toppled over on Mar 3, 2023 at Tiong Bahru Road. (Photo: CNA/Grace Yeoh)
The fallen tree and damaged sheltered walkway along Tiong Bahru Road on Mar 3, 2023. (Photo: Twitter/septian)

When CNA arrived at the scene at about 6.30pm, there was a queue of buses lined up until Tiong Bahru Plaza. 

Police vehicles, an ambulance and a lorry crane were also at the site, with workers in the process of clearing away the tree. 

CNA reader Septian Hartono shared a photo of the damaged sheltered walkway – it showed that a portion of it had collapsed under the tree's weight. 

Another photo by Mr Hartono showed that a car had also been badly damaged, with debris seen atop the crushed vehicle. 

Retiree Johnny Yap, who lives at Block 26 which overlooks the part of the affected walkway, said his sister heard the tree fall on her way home.

“All these trees are about 50 to 60 years old. Last time the branches also (fell) down. We’ve stayed here since 1960-something,” the 70-year-old told CNA.

“These few days keep raining. That’s why (when you’re) walking, (you) must listen to your surroundings. Otherwise (it is) dangerous.”

Singapore has seen heavy rain in the past week, recording its wettest February day on Feb 28. The Meteorological Service Singapore on Friday forecast "periods of showers, heavy at times", with another monsoon surge expected.

A large tree toppled over on Mar 3, 2023 at Tiong Bahru Road, blocking traffic in both directions. (Photo: CNA/Grace Yeoh)
A sheltered walkway at Tiong Bahru Road was damaged after a tree fell on it on Mar 3, 2023. (Photo: CNA/Grace Yeoh)

Another two passers-by who spoke to CNA had to walk across the cordoned off portion of the road to get to their destination.

A 63-year-old who only wanted to be identified as Mr Goh said he waited at the bus stop opposite Tiong Bahru Plaza for more than 30 minutes before someone told him the tree had fallen.

Mr Richarlie Wee, 83, alighted from his bus to walk to Tiong Bahru Plaza. He did not know why traffic had stopped until he spotted the damaged car and fallen tree.

The fallen tree disrupted traffic, and buses were seen in a line all the way until Tiong Bahru Plaza on Mar 3, 2023. (Photo: CNA/Grace Yeoh)
A sheltered walkway at Tiong Bahru Road was damaged after a large tree fell on it on Mar 3, 2023. (Photo: CNA/Grace Yeoh)

Images from Google Street View dated March 2022 showed large trees lining both sides of this stretch of Tiong Bahru Road. 

One of the trees next to Block 7 can be seen slightly leaning over the pavement, in the direction of the main road. 

Google Street View screengrab of Tiong Bahru Road dated March 2022, showing Block 7 and Block 24.
Google Street View screengrab of Tiong Bahru Road dated March 2022, showing Block 7.

If you would like to send in information, photos or videos about something newsworthy, submit your news tips on CNA Eyewitness or on WhatsApp.

Source: CNA/lk(zl)
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