Heavy Rain And Strong Winds, A 15-meter High Avocado Tree Falls Injuring 2 Residents Drinking Coffee

Officers evacuate an avocado tree as high as 15 meters that fell due to rain and strong winds in Jakarta/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - The East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Service (Gulkarmat) has evacuated a 15-meter-tall avocado tree that fell on Jalan Gotong Royong, RT 01/02, Pondok Bambu Village, Duren Sawit District, East Jakarta.

The Team Commander (Danru) of the East Jakarta Gulkarmat Sub-dept. for the Duren Sawit sector, Angga said that his party received a report regarding a fallen tree at around 15.00 WIB.

"We have deployed two units (rescue cars) to go to the crime scene (TKP) along with eight personnel to anticipate this fallen tree," explained Angga to reporters at the location, Thursday, May 19.

In the process of evacuating fallen trees, his party used a chainsaw to cut tree trunks and branches that completely covered the body of Jalan Gotong Royong.

The evacuation process was also assisted by Public Infrastructure and Facilities Handling officers (PPSU) Pondok Bambu Village.

"We use chainsaws to cut trees, we deploy three units and from PPSU one unit. For the fallen tree, the avocado tree is 40 centimeters in diameter, approximately 15 meters high," he said.

Angga said, the process of evacuating the fallen tree went smoothly without any problems. The evacuation process started at 15.05 WIB and finished at 16.16 WIB.

Angga said, based on information from the local environmental management, the avocado tree had not been bearing fruit for a long time and indeed the residents had intended to cut it down.

"They have taken the initiative to cut but have not had the time. Now, due to the slightly extreme weather and strong winds, the tree fell," he said.

The avocado tree is on the burial ground. As a result, a number of graves were damaged because tree roots that had been gnawing in the ground were released.

Amel (35), a witness at the scene, said that the tree fell after being hit by rain and strong winds. At the time of the incident, Amel was guarding his shop.

"Initially I was at the shop, it was raining heavily accompanied by very strong winds, then I heard a cracking sound, then I came out right in front of my shop, it fell on a tree," he said.

Amel said, the impact of the fallen tree injured two customers who were taking shelter while drinking coffee.

"Two people, one leg was bleeding, the other hit the wall. But minor injuries," he said.

In addition, the position of the tree on the ground of the tomb collapsed on the walls of the burial area, bird cages, and slightly hit the roofs of pulse sellers and basic food stalls.