At approximately 6 AM, a phoenix tree, with a diameter of over 70 cm, uprooted near the exercise area by Pham Ngu Lao street, collapsing onto a park walkway.

A portion of the tree's canopy landed on a railing and lighting wires, alarming nearby individuals. The tree's base lifted from its square plot within the paved ground. Despite its green foliage, pests and disease had hollowed out the trunk, creating a large cavity that occupied nearly half its diameter. The trunk also snapped horizontally upon impact. There were no strong winds at the time of the incident.

The tree's roots developed within a square frame on the road. Its trunk was hollowed out by decay. *Minh Hoang*

Anh Phat, a resident near the scene, stated that the area is frequented by many elderly people exercising and walking in the mornings. Fortunately, no one was standing close when the tree fell. "I heard a loud noise and then saw the tree blocking the path", he said.

Staff from the Ho Chi Minh City Green Park Company arrived promptly, using saws to cut the tree trunk into smaller pieces for removal. The management unit also inspected other trees in the area to ensure safety.

23/9 Park is centrally located in Ho Chi Minh City, situated between Le Lai and Pham Ngu Lao streets. It extends from Quach Thi Trang square to Nguyen Trai street. The park comprises three sections, separated by Nguyen Thi Nghia street, and borders Ben Thanh Market and the central metro station.

The fallen tree blocks a pedestrian path in 23/9 Park. *Provided by residents*

Recently, several trees in Ho Chi Minh City have fallen, causing incidents. Since early June, three trees uprooted, falling onto cars on Tran Xuan Soan street and at the Cao Thang - Dien Bien Phu intersection.

Ho Chi Minh City currently maintains over 200,000 trees across more than 1,200 roads. Detecting hollow or unstable trees primarily relies on observation and experience. For large trees, 20-30 m tall, internal defects are challenging to identify visually.

Dinh Van