270-year-old Tembusu topples in Botanic Gardens killing 1 and injuring 4 others

One person died and four others were injured yesterday after a 270-year-old Tembusu tree fell at the Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBC), interrupting an event organised by the High Commission of Canada that was scheduled to start at 5pm.

According to the SBC’s website, the 40m tall  tree with a girth of 6.5m was the largest of its kind in the Gardens. The Gardens has cancelled all programmes at the Gardens today (12 Feb 2017) due to the incident.

Eyewitnesses said that members of the public worked together to help free people after the tree toppled. Police have confirmed that the deceased is a 38-year-old Indian national. Her husband, a 39-year-old French national and their two children, both one-year-old were injured in the incident. A 26-year-old female Singaporean was also injured.

The National Parks Board (NParks) said that it was investigating why the tree fell. It added that its priority is to accord assistance to the families of the deceased and the injured.

The High Commission of Canada, in a post on Twitter, said it was “deeply saddened” by the death.