A 21-metre-tall tree was suddenly uprooted and came crashing down upon a park pavilion at Sembawang Park, injuring 12 park visitors. Photos of the destruction the massive tree caused has been trending online.
According to the National Parks Board (NParks), the incodent occurred last Friday around 5.30pm when the area was struck by thunderstorms and strong winds.
A group of 17 people were gathered at the pavilion on that day having an early Christmas celebration. As the rain poured, the tree suddenly uprooted and collapsed on top of the pavilion.
5 individuals escaped unhurt while the remaining 12 where trapped under the totally crushed pavilion. Officers from the Singapore Civil Defense Force extricated these 12 individuals and conveyed them to the hospital, when they arrived at the scene.
According to NParks, the tree that crushed the pavilion is a Erythrophleum Suaveolens. Besides this tree, another Sembawang Park tree collapsed on the same day. NParks is investigating the cause of the incident.