An intense thunderstorm last night brought a tree crashing down onto a sheltered pavilion at Sembawang Park, where 17 people had been enjoying a private Christmas party.
The uprooted tree was a massive Erythrophleum suaveolens, confirmed the National Parks Board (NParks), measuring around 21 meters in height. TODAY reported that 14 people had to be conveyed to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for treatment, though no one was trapped underneath the wreckage. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) deployed medical and rescue personnel to the scene along Beaulieu Road around 5:55pm yesterday.
Witnesses speaking to Channel NewsAsia noted that a group of people — understood to be SMRT employees — had been having their party near a playground, but took shelter in a pavilion when the rain started. The weather took a turn for the worse and caused the old tree to collapse right onto the shelter, crushing the structure and the people in it.
A chocolate log cake at the party was only partially smashed, according to TODAY reporters who visited the scene. Bloodied tissues and used bandages were strewn in the area, amidst unwrapped but damaged presents.
According to NParks, there were actually two trees that fell yesterday evening at Sembawang Park. Aside from the one that crushed a pavilion, an 18-meter Tabebuia rosea was uprooted in the storm as well. Workers were deployed to the park to cut up the fallen trees and clear the debris.
NParks assured that the incident is being investigated and that the victims and their families will be assisted. One of the injured casualties had some strong words against NParks, railing against the alleged lack of maintenance and inspection of the trees.
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