Falling trees

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Fallen tree in Chestnut Nature Park crushes car​

No one was in the car when the trunk of an Albizia tree at Chestnut Nature Park snapped at about 5pm on April 13. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM SG ROAD VIGILANTE/FACBEOOK

Elaine Lee

APR 17, 2024

SINGAPORE - A large tree fell in Chestnut Avenue on April 13, crushing a white sedan that was parked beside it.
Dashcam footage of the incident showed car’s bonnet and roof crushed by the fallen tree’s trunk.
The video, posted on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page, has got over 60,000 views so far.
No one was in the car when the incident happened.
A National Parks Board (NParks) spokesman said the trunk of an Albizia tree in Chestnut Nature Park snapped at about 5pm that day.
He added that there were no reported injuries, and the obstruction was cleared by 7.30pm that day.
This is not the first time Albizia trees have fallen.

In 2016, an Albizia tree growing on state land toppled onto a Bukit Timah bungalow that belonged to 94-year-old Pamela Hickley, the former private secretary to Singapore’s last British governor.
The tree, which fell even though there was no strong wind, flattened a portion of a fence and the garden.
The authorities later removed the tree and replaced it with other more weather-resilient species that were less likely to break. Albizia trees are also susceptible to pests and root rot.



Insurance companies told The Straits Times incidents like this are typically covered under motor insurance plans.
They advised motorists to report such incidents to the authorities and make prompt reports to their insurers for claims assessment.

Income Insurance’s deputy vice-president and head of its motor business Cecilia Siah said that any in-car footage of the incident would also help to support the claim.
Etiqa Insurance Singapore chief executive Raymond Ong also added that motorists should take photographs of the damage.
“Meticulously documenting the scene, including capturing photographs and videos of the vehicle damage and surrounding areas, (will be) invaluable in accurately assessing the damage when initiating the insurance claim process,” he said.
Mr Ong added that the amount a vehicle owner can claim depends on various factors, including the extent of damage and the coverage limit stated in the insurance policy.
“The insurer will typically assess the damage upon submission of a claim and provide compensation accordingly, within maximum coverage limits,” he said.
Insurers also said that in the event the vehicle is totalled, they provide coverage up to the market value of the vehicle at the time of loss, even if repair costs are greater than the market value of the vehicle.

 

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Heavier rain, stronger winds prompt closer checks on trees on Sentosa, mainland S’pore​

A tree branch fell onto the road in Gunner Lane at about 6pm on May 28. PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM ROADS.SG/FACEBOOK

Christie Chiu

Jun 23, 2024

SINGAPORE – Checks on trees on Sentosa are being stepped up amid changing climate patterns, including a prolonged monsoon season, increased rainfall and other extreme weather events in recent months.
The heightened measures, introduced in November 2023, include inspecting trees and pruning them more often, especially those in areas with high human traffic and where the trees are exposed to strong winds.
A spokesman for the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) said that so far in 2024, there have been four reported cases of fallen trees and 11 incidents of falling branches on Sentosa that were caused by inclement weather and intense rainfall.
In one recent incident, a tree branch fell onto the road in Gunner Lane at about 6pm on May 28, the spokesman said. No guests were hurt, and no property was damaged, he added, but video footage posted on social media showed the branch had blocked a road exit next to Yue Private Dining restaurant.
Experts warn that changing weather patterns caused by climate change could lead to more incidents of trees falling or branches snapping. Stronger winds and bouts of more intense rain, for instance, could result in more trees toppling over.
Technological tools like tree-tilt sensors are used to monitor tree movement and stability, the SDC spokesman said.
These sensors help detect when trees start to lean early and could be headed for a fall after gradual weakening over the years. Early detection paves the way for preventive measures to be taken, such as improving soil conditions and pruning tree crowns.

Another strategy has been to plant more native tree species, which are better adapted to local weather patterns and climate conditions.
In Singapore, the National Parks Board (NParks) has stepped up efforts to ensure the health of trees in public areas since the early 2000s, including putting in place measures to protect the trees against drastic weather caused by climate change.
In response to queries, an NParks spokesman said that in 2024, there have been nearly 140 “tree incidents” so far, including reported cases of fallen trees and branches. Such incidents are likely to cause obstructions in urban areas.

NParks manages about six million trees, out of a total of about seven million on the island.
There has been an annual average of about 400 tree incidents in Singapore over the last five years, NParks said. It added that most of the incidents involved snapped branches. That is a drop of nearly 87 per cent compared with the 3,100 reported incidents in 2001.
In 2023, there were 430 cases, down from 480 cases the previous year, said NParks streetscape group director Oh Cheow Sheng.
He said: “In anticipation of the challenges posed by climate change, NParks is committed to sustaining our comprehensive tree-management programme, which involves a robust regimen of inspections and pruning, to proactively address potential vulnerabilities in our trees and enhance the overall resilience of our urban green spaces.”
According to V3 – Singapore’s third national climate change study, published in January 2024 – wind speeds could increase by up to 20 per cent by the end of the century.

Climate change could also cause erratic rainfall patterns, including longer periods of dry spells and periods of more intense rain.
As more water vapour evaporates into the atmosphere owing to increasing global surface temperatures, it becomes fuel for more powerful storms to develop, according to the United States Geological Survey.
In Singapore, rainfall patterns are expected to experience more drastic swings, the V3 study found. Extreme daily rainfall is expected to increase across all seasons. The rise is likely to range from about 6 per cent to 92 per cent during the inter-monsoon months of April and May.
Longer-lasting dry spells are also expected to become more frequent – there will most likely be an average of one dry spell every 10 to 60 months by 2100 in Singapore, the V3 study said.
Other than long-term climate change, weather phenomena like La Nina can also result in more rain falling on Singapore.
Mr Oh said trees are generally assessed by trained inspectors once every six to 24 months under the NParks tree-monitoring regimen, which is based on guidelines by the International Society of Arboriculture.
The frequency of inspections depends on the locality and age of the trees. Trees are also pruned regularly to improve their structure and balance.
“This is stepped up during periods of adverse weather conditions to reduce the risk of tree-failure incidents,” Mr Oh said.
In addition to using technology like wireless sensors to manage its trees, NParks has been replacing diseased trees and those vulnerable to storms in forested areas bordering roads since 2003. Native species, which are better suited to Singapore’s weather conditions, are planted instead.

Other than the six million trees under NParks’ management, the remaining one million trees in Singapore are managed by private landowners and several other government agencies, which generally follow the advice of NParks.
For instance, national water agency PUB manages more than 1,000 trees in areas like reservoirs and pipeline reserves, while the Housing Board and town councils manage trees in new and existing HDB estates.
HDB, when asked about its tree-management programme and whether it has stepped up checks, cited a 2021 reply to a parliamentary question. In the reply, the National Development Ministry said that since 2018, HDB has been securing trees planted on rooftop gardens with anchors at their roots, embedded in the soil, to further reduce the risk of tree-fall incidents.

 

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Many reports of fallen trees as strong wind, heavy rain batter Singapore​

Fallen trees affecting vehicles along Upper Hokien Street on Sept 17. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

A fallen tree at a walkway next to Kitchener Road and City Square Residences on Sept 17. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

Fallen trees affecting vehicles along Upper Hokien Street on Sept 17. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Elaine Lee

Sep 17, 2024

SINGAPORE – Many reports of fallen trees surfaced on social media platforms after heavy rain on Sept 17 evening.
A resident who lives near Mount Faber told The Straits Times that he was running up the hill when he experienced strong winds and branches started falling.
“The next moment, one part of the tree that was in front of me fell,” he said, adding that it was the first time he has witnessed a tree falling since he started exercising in that area about five years ago.
“The route is a one-way road, so all the vehicles and I had to turn around and leave the area.”
Photos and videos seen by ST show fallen trees in various locations in Singapore, including Beach Road, Xilin Avenue, Jalan Membina and on the Pan-Island Expressway before the Bukit Timah Expressway exit.
On Sept 16, the Meteorological Service Singapore said more rainfall is forecast in the latter half of the fortnight, adding that thundery showers could be widespread and heavy on some of these days.
Sumatra squalls may also bring widespread thundery showers and gusty winds on a few days, the weatherman said.

ST has contacted the National Environment Agency and NParks for more info.

 

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Cars seemingly damaged by fallen panel near UOB Plaza

 

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In Pictures: Heavy rain, strong winds topple trees​

Torrential rain lashed Singapore on the evening of Sept 17, causing some damage around the island.​

Sep 18, 2024

An uprooted tree in Choa Chu Kang Grove on Sept 18, 2024. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Workers clearing fallen trees in Choa Chu Kang Grove on Sept 18, 2024. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

In Raffles Place, some metal debris is seen scattered on the road outside UOB Plaza and the Xpeng car showroom on Sept 17, 2024. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Metal debris scattered near a car outside UOB Plaza on Sept 17, 2024. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Torrential rain obscuring the Singapore skyline on Sept 17, 2024. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Fallen trees affecting vehicles in Upper Hokien Street on Sept 17, 2024. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

A vehicle is struck by a fallen tree in Upper Hokien Street on Sept 17, 2024. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

A fallen tree across a walkway next to Kitchener Road and City Square Residences on Sept 17, 2024. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

People ducking under a fallen tree across the walkway next to Kitchener Road and City Square Residences on Sept 17, 2024. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY

A worker clearing a fallen tree in Hougang Street 92 at about 9.15pm on Sept 17, 2024. ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

A family at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park heading back home after rain started to pour on Sept 17, 2024. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

 

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Yishun Avenue 7

 

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More than 300 trees in Singapore affected by Sumatra Squall on Sept 17: NParks​

A segment of the boardwalk at MacRitchie Reservoir's Chemperai Trail was smashed straight through by a large tree. PHOTO: ARTI MULCHAND

Christie Chiu

Sep 18, 2024

SINGAPORE - More than 300 trees were affected across the island when heavy and intense rainfall brought about by a Sumatra Squall battered Singapore on the evening of Sept 17.
Social media was filled with photos and videos of trees that were uprooted in various areas, including Beach Road, Xilin Avenue, Jalan Membina, on the Pan-Island Expressway before the Bukit Timah Expressway exit, and on the Central Expressway near the Yio Chu Kang Flyover.
An SBS Transit bus captain and passenger were taken to hospital conscious after a tree suddenly fell onto the bus they were in at about 7.25pm along Yishun Avenue 7.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, National Parks Board (NParks) said most of the over 300 incidents involved snapped branches, but did not say how many trees fell.
“Our staff and contractors worked through the night to clear the obstructions, and we are following up to clear any remaining debris,” NParks said.
One affected area was the Central Catchment Nature Reserve’s MacRitchie Nature Trail, where several trees had fallen.
It added that affected portions of the boardwalk have been cordoned off for inspection and repairs, with signs directing visitors to use an alternative trail.

“For public safety, we urge members of the public to avoid entering parks, nature reserves and forested areas during and after bad weather, and to seek cover at the nearest shelter available,” said NParks.
“Park visitors should also adhere to the opening hours of our nature areas and stay on designated trails.”
Anyone affected by a fallen tree on public property can use the OneService mobile app to report the incident or call the NParks helpline on 1800-471-7300 for urgent cases, it added.

Ms Arti Mulchand, who visits MacRitchie Reservoir every weekday for the past three years, said she saw a fallen tree on the boardwalk of the Chemperai Trail on the morning of Sept 18.
“A segment of about a metre and a half of the metal boardwalk was smashed straight through by a relatively large tree into the water,” the 47-year-old content strategist said.
A notice board along the boardwalk also appeared to have broken when the tree fell.
She added that the area was not cordoned off at the time and several people were seen walking over the fallen tree and damaged boardwalk.
In photos she shared with ST, several other trees have also fallen over the boardwalk and into the reservoir waters.
Ms Mulchand saw some workers heading for the most damaged part of the boardwalk when she left at about 9.30am.

Several other trees also fell over the boardwalk and into the reservoir waters. PHOTO: ARTI MULCHAND
Meanwhile, Tiong Bahru MP Indranee Rajah said in a post on Facebook on Sept 18 that she had been doing house visits at Boon Tiong estate when the storm occurred.
“Due to the winds and heavy rainfall, a number of trees in our division were uprooted. Some cars and structures were also affected,” she said, adding that the wind was very strong.
Ms Indranee said the Tanjong Pagar Town Council horticulture team and their contractors have been hard at work clearing the fallen trees and debris and checking on the condition of nearby trees.
The property team will also follow up on the damage caused by the fallen trees and carry out the necessary rectification works, she added.
She said that those who had properties affected by the fallen trees can contact the Tanjong Pagar Town Council should they need any assistance.

 

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Pedestrian taken to hospital after tree falls in Jurong West​

Photos of the aftermath show a fallen tree lying across the road. A traffic light near the tree is damaged. PHOTOS: LIANHE ZAOBAO READER

Chin Hui Shan

Oct 15, 2024

SINGAPORE – A pedestrian was taken to hospital after a tree fell in Jurong West on Oct 15.
In response to queries, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received a call for help in Jurong West Street 42 at about 5.25pm.
A person was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, SCDF added.
Photos of the aftermath show a fallen tree lying across the road. A traffic light near the tree is damaged.
The western part of Singapore experienced one of the country’s heaviest downpours in more than 40 years on Oct 14 morning, with thunderstorms blanketing the island, according to national water agency PUB.
The agency said on Oct 14 that 134.8mm of rainfall was recorded in western Singapore from 8.15am to 1.50pm, the highest amount during this time period.
According to the Meteorological Service Singapore, the month of October sees an average of 168.3mm of rainfall, based on readings recorded between 1991 and 2020.

The heavy rain on Oct 14 resulted in flooding in many areas, such as Tampines and Bukit Timah, with videos on social media showing vehicles slowly making their way through flooded roads.
The Straits Times has contacted the National Parks Board for more information.

 

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Jurong West

 

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Bus services diverted after tree falls in Toa Payoh​

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Photos of the incident show that the tree had been completely uprooted, and had fallen across the pedestrian walkway and two lanes. PHOTO: ST READER

An uprooted tree along Toa Payoh Central seen at 10pm on Nov 28. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

The uprooted tree blocked the left lane of the road along Toa Payoh Central. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Photos of the incident show that the tree had been completely uprooted, and had fallen across the pedestrian walkway and two lanes. PHOTOS: ST READER

Workers clearing the debris of the uprooted tree along Toa Payoh Central on Nov 28. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

SBS Transit said that bus services 56, 105 and 153 had to be diverted from Toa Payoh Central towards Lorong 4 Toa Payoh due to the fallen tree. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

Sarah Koh

Nov 29, 2024

SINGAPORE - Three bus services were diverted for around an hour on Nov 28, after a large tree fell in Toa Payoh, blocking off traffic across two lanes.

In a post on social media platform X at around 8.45pm, SBS Transit said that bus services 56, 105 and 153 had to be diverted from Toa Payoh Central towards Lorong 4 Toa Payoh due to a fallen tree. This resulted in the buses having to skip two bus stops.

The Land Transport Authority added on X that Toa Payoh Central, after Lorong 2 Toa Payoh, was closed.

Photos of the incident show that the tree had been completely uprooted, and had fallen across the pedestrian walkway and two lanes.

In an update about an hour later, SBS Transit said that the buses were now operating normally.

Vehicles were able to pass through at about 10pm after workers removed a part of the fallen tree.

The Straits Times has contacted the National Parks Board for more information.