Homeless man killed by falling tree

BOGOR: A homeless man was killed and another was injured after they were hit by a falling tree near Bogor State Palace on Thursday afternoon.

The falling canari (local variety of almond) tree also severely damaged four cars that happened to be passing along Jl. Jalak Harupat. Traffic in the area remained congested for some hours afterward.

The fatality was unidentified, while the injured individual was named as Opang, 35, a resident of Kampung Lebak Sari in Paledang subdistrict. He was in a public minivan when the tree fell.

An official at Bogor administration Lilies S. confirmed the incident and said the twelve-meter tall canary tree fell due to natural causes.

"The tree was about 20 years old and it keeled over because of strong winds," she said.

A witness, 29-year-old Aminah, who saw the incident, deplored the incompetence of the administration, saying that if officials had data on old trees, they should have made people aware of the potential dangers beforehand. --JP