Around 4:40 p.m., as vehicles waited at a red light at the intersection in Ward Vuon Lai, a tree approximately 40 cm in diameter and nearly 10 m tall unexpectedly uprooted, falling onto two oto. Many branches landed on the car hoods, cracking their windshields.

A store's security camera captured the tree uprooting, cracking the sidewalk, and then falling onto the road. A motorcyclist below managed to accelerate and escape.

According to Mr. Thanh, who lives near the scene, in addition to damaging two oto, the tree's canopy also knocked down a young woman on a motorbike. The victim later crawled out from under the pile of branches and leaves.

The tree's canopy covers the scene of the fallen tree. *Photo: Dinh Van*

"The two oto parked close to the sidewalk blocked some of the impact, helping many motorcyclists avoid being hit by the falling tree," Mr. Thanh said.

The incident caused prolonged traffic congestion on Dien Bien Phu street. *Photo: Dinh Van*

The incident left the tree trunk resting on an oto's hood, blocking a lane and causing traffic congestion. Authorities later cut the tree into smaller pieces and removed them from the scene to clear the road.

Dinh Van