The Ho Chi Minh City Greenery Parks (HGPA) Company Limited has affirmed that the tree, whose branch tragically fell and caused the demise of a man in District 5 earlier this week, had been maintained in accordance with technical procedures.

The tree underwent various stages, including the care and pruning of drooping and dead branches, the creation of a balanced canopy, and the removal of dry and weak branches, according to HGPA’s deputy head of technical department Nguyen Thanh Son.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reached out to Son after a branch from a broken tree fell on N.Q.D., a 36-year-old man hailing from the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, while he was vending goods at 70-72 Nguyen Trai Street in Ward 3, District 5 on Thursday evening. 

Following the incident, D. was swiftly transported to a hospital for emergency treatment.

Despite intensive medical treatment, his health deteriorated, and he passed away on Friday afternoon, Son said.

Representatives from HGPA, Ward 3 authorities, and D.’s family accompanied the deceased victim home to facilitate funeral arrangements afterward. 

Passersby gather at the scene where a tree branch fell on a man on Nguyen Trai Street in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, January 18, 2024. Photo: Facebook

Investigating the cause of the fatal incident, Son stated that the broken branch, approximately 3.5 meters in length and nearly 30 meters above the ground, appeared fresh and exhibited no visible defects.

The starting point of the fracture measured 10 centimeters in diameter. 

Son inferred from initial assessments that there is still a possibility of an internal crack, which may be linked to the seasonal transition from rainy to dry weather conditions, potentially weakening the tree branches due to a decrease in water supply. 

Additionally, the presence of a high-rise building opposite the tree, affecting it with wind, is considered a contributing factor. 

HGPA plans to check and remove dry, drooping, heavy, and long branches on trees along Nguyen Trai Street, particularly for large and old trees, following the incident.

For the long term, the company suggests that the Ho Chi Minh City Infrastructure Management Center under the municipal Department of Construction gradually replace large, old, and potentially unsafe trees to mitigate risks and prevent future incidents.

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