Seven People Killed by a Tree in Pidie Aceh

JAKARTA - The Pidie Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Aceh, stated that as many as seven residents died after being hit by a tree on the Banda Aceh-Medan national road, the Tanjong Krueng area, Sigli City.

Head of the Fire and Rescue (Damkarmat) BPBD Pidie Regency Nasruddin said that the incident of a tree falling on the residents occurred on Tuesday (11/8) at around 21.00 WIB.

"It is recorded that seven people died when a large-sized kendo tree fell on the road. The victim was a passenger in an open truck," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 12.

The seven victims who died were Zubaidah (60), Nurmawati (50), Rapasah (55), Patimah Wati (47), Salbiah (68), Zainabon (64), and Halimah (68).

In addition to the deceased, five other people were injured, including on the neck and head. Including one of them was reported in a coma.

"All the victims are residents of Gampong Puli Seke, Pidie District, Pidie Regency," he said.

The incident, he said, began when the victim's open truck was traveling on the Banda Aceh-Medan national road, in the Tanjong Kreueng area.

Suddenly, a large tree suspected to be old and weathered at the root fell. The tree fell on an open truck carrying a group of Gampong Puli residents.

The incident was reported to the Pusdalops BPBD Pidie Regency. BPBD then deployed officers to handle the incident. Then the officers evacuated the victims.

BPBD officers also cleaned the tree material to facilitate the evacuation of victims. Officers also monitor and monitor the development of the condition of victims who receive treatment, he said.

"The Pidie Regency BPBD urges the public to increase vigilance when passing through areas with large trees, especially when the weather is not friendly and there is a potential for trees to fall," said Nasruddin.