Homeless man killed by falling tree

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