This is information from the report of the Department of Construction of Ho Chi Minh City sent to the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City about the recent tree incidents in the area.
According to the Department of Construction, since 2012, there have been 12 tree-related accidents, resulting in 13 deaths. In 2024 alone, there were 4 incidents resulting in 5 deaths, all involving Class 3 trees, including 3 eucalyptus trees and 1 monkey skull tree.
Trees fall for a variety of reasons, including storms, wind, and construction that damages the root system. Many trees have been cut down or show signs of deterioration over the years. Large trees, especially oil and star trees, can cause serious damage when they fall due to the weight of their branches.
Before 2000, tree failures were less common due to the low lifespan of the trees. However, the intense heat of 2024 has weakened the tree system, affecting the tree's endurance.
Although the work of pruning, felling and replacing trees at risk has been enhanced, the situation of incidents is still complicated, potentially causing safety risks for people. Rapid urbanization and high population density have increased pressure on the tree system.
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City manages a total of 171,431 trees, including 9,283 type 3 trees (large trees, very large trees, ancient trees from 100 to 150 years old). These trees are mainly located in central areas with high population density and traffic such as Districts 1, 3 and 5. This is a group of trees with a high risk of causing accidents and property damage.
According to the Department of Construction, in terms of short-term solutions, continue to increase resources and equipment to care for and prune type 3 trees.
At the same time, the department will review and cut down old trees that pose a high risk of causing accidents, especially near schools and intersections. In the first 9 months of the year, about 3,097 trees were replaced due to unsafety or potential safety risks (damaged or defective trees; old trees; dead trees; trees with root systems damaged by construction works...).
Regarding long-term solutions, the Department of Construction is implementing a project to develop safe trees, focusing on limiting damage caused by tree incidents in parks and streets.
