Root rot, cavity contributed to 90-year-old tree collapse, says MBPP
Mayor says the 28m-tall tree had an estimated 30% root rot, while cavity decay accounted for about 40% of its base trunk.
A 90-year-old Angsana tree near Jalan Macalister in George Town collapsed today, resulting in injuries to an elderly couple and their grandchild. Authorities determined root rot, cavity decay, chronic soil compaction, and limited rooting space were major contributors to the tree's structural failure. Penang Island city council mayor A Rajendran informed that the 28-meter-tall Pterocarpus indicus had around 30% root rot and 40% cavities in its base trunk.
The incident occurred around 9am, with no reports of heavy rain or strong winds at the time. MBPP began dismantling the tree at 9:41am and reopened the road at 2:20pm. The city council has assessed mature and aged trees along Jalan Macalister, identifying 13 for felling, of which 148 have already been removed. Rajendran noted that 179 high-risk trees were approved for felling in 2024, with 247 felled in the first three quarters of the year, often due to obstructing drainage, development projects, or encroaching on pipeline alignments.
Following the collapse, the council instructed the contractor to expedite tree height reduction and removal of potentially hazardous trees along the road.
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