폭염에 ‘200살 보호수 할머니’ 쓰러져…영암군 회현마을 ‘한숨’

On November 1st, a thunderous clap of lightning was heard at the entrance of the Hwe-hyeon-myeon village in Eumseong County, South Korea, during the ongoing heatwave. In shock, Kim Soon-an (91) witnessed the 200-year-old protective tree named "Grandmother Protective Tree" collapsing at the village hall. This tree had been designated as a protective tree in 1982.

Its circumference measured 4.2 meters and its height reached around 15 meters. Upon seeing the fallen tree, villagers expressed confusion, as there was no wind that day.

Criticizing the situation, Baek Seung-sun (65), the village head, exclaimed, "This is a mystery." Meanwhile, Kim Soon-im (93), another resident, recalled that workers had said to her, "The tree must have fallen because of the scorching heat," and cautioned that people seem to be falling sick more often these days. Kim Soon-an's statement drew a smile from the villagers. They reminisced about the traditional ancestor worship ceremony held in front of the tree to pray for the well-being of their village.

The "Grandmother Protective Tree" had been a source of comfort for the villagers since they first encountered it in their 19 years of marriage. The sudden collapse of the tree left them feeling anxious. According to Kim Soon-an, "It feels like losing a family member."

Upon hearing the explanation from a forestry expert who had assessed the protective tree, it was believed that the tree had fallen due to poor structural integrity exacerbated by extreme weather conditions. The tree exhibited multiple root cankers and had been weakened by rot in its base, which was unable to support the tree's weight under the strain of extreme heat.

The forestry department's assessment concluded that the protective tree had fallen due to a rotting trunk near the ground, unable to bear the weight of the earth. In addition, the root collar separation caused the tree to topple over. The department stressed that older trees like the protective tree are inherently weaker and more susceptible to breakage under the stress of extreme weather events.

They added that the heatwave could have intensified the tree's transpiration, making it draw more water than it could handle, leading to its collapse.

In response to the incident, Eumseong County officials have issued an announcement on November 4th, requesting feedback on the possibility of removing the protective tree designation. If no objections are raised, the protective tree will be removed on the 13th of the following month.