Trees topple, crushing structures and blocking roads in Ho Chi Minh City

During a severe thunderstorm, nearly 10 trees around Binh Phu park fell, crushing a motorbike parking structure and an electrical cabinet, and endangering pedestrians on the afternoon of 11/9.

Around 5:30 p.m., heavy rain and strong gusts of wind hit several areas in Ho Chi Minh City. The storm brought down a large, old Indian almond tree, approximately 20 m tall and over one meter in diameter, crushing a motorbike parking structure within Binh Phu park on Nguyen Van Luong Street (formerly District 6).

A fallen tree crushes the motorbike parking structure at Binh Phu Park, with the steel frame landing on two motorbikes. Photo: Dinh Van

A fallen tree crushes the motorbike parking structure at Binh Phu Park, with the steel frame landing on two motorbikes. Photo: Dinh Van

At the time, over 20 motorbikes belonging to park visitors were parked underneath the structure. Two of the bikes were severely damaged, trapped under the fallen steel frame. Other motorbikes were subsequently moved to safety.

The tree's roots were ripped from the ground, leaving a 2 m wide hole. About 10 m away, several other trees, ranging from 10 to 15 m in height, also fell. They landed on a medium-voltage electrical cabinet and blocked the road.

A large tree, approximately 20 m tall and over a meter in diameter, fell onto the motorbike parking structure at Binh Phu Park. Photo: Dinh Van

A large tree, approximately 20 m tall and over a meter in diameter, fell onto the motorbike parking structure at Binh Phu Park. Photo: Dinh Van

Mai Huong, who owns a food stall near the park, described the storm as having tornado-like winds that brought down many trees. "One large tree fell onto the road, but it fell slowly, so several motorcyclists were luckily able to stop in time," Huong said.