A heritage tree in Outram fell and hit six apartment units early on Sunday morning, scattering glass and waking some residents up with a shock.
The incident occurred at Pearl Bank Apartments at about 5am, Shin Min Daily News reported yesterday.
The 30m-tall tree damaged at least six apartments from the fourth to eighth floors but no one was hurt.
Fixtures damaged reportedly include windows, window grilles and air-conditioning compressors.
According to the National Parks Board (NParks) website, the Purple Millettia tree was more than 60 years old when assessed in 2008.
A resident who gave his name as Mr Yang, 56, told Shin Min that he was woken up by a loud noise.
“I saw shattered glass on the floor, and when I opened the curtains, I saw branches poking into the house.
“It wasn’t just the glass that was broken, even the grilles were twisted,” he said.
Lianhe Wanbao, Shin Min Daily News
An eighth-floor resident who gave her name as Madam Yang, a 48-year-old accountant, told Lianhe Wanbao in a report yesterday that she had been roused from sleep by a loud crash and the sound of glass breaking.
“I woke up to check and got a shock.
“The windows in the master bedroom, living room and my son’s bedroom had been smashed, with branches protruding through the broken glass,” she said.
The affected areas have been sealed off and NParks officers were still clearing the scene at 11am yesterday, Wanbao reported.
The management at Pearl Bank Apartments distributed fliers to residents, advising them to take pictures of the damage done to their homes to facilitate insurance claims.
Wanbao understands that NParks will help coordinate these claims.
Some residents told Wanbao that there are more than 10 other large trees in the area. They hope that the authorities will inspect them to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.
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