Fire dept calls for systematic measures to prevent fallen tree incidents nationwide

Putrajaya, Aug 16 — Malaysia's fallen tree incidents are no longer isolated, occurring throughout the year and posing a serious threat to public safety, according to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM). In 2021, there were 26,001 cases of fallen trees nationwide, resulting in 50 deaths and 243 injuries. From January to June 2026, there were 1,912 cases, with 50 fatalities and 243 injuries.

JBPM Director-General Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad emphasized the need for systematic measures to prevent these incidents, including regular safety audits, inter-agency data sharing, and consistent maintenance. Factors contributing to tree falls include thunderstorms with strong winds and heavy rain, especially during the monsoon transition phase, as well as the physical condition of the trees such as old, diseased, or decayed trees with weak root and branch structures.

JBPM supports regular tree safety audits and assessments, particularly in high-risk areas like main roads, schools, hospitals, public parks, residential areas, and locations with high foot traffic. The department believes that early identification of tree structure failure through audits can reduce the risk of injury, loss of life, property damage, and disruptions to public pathways.

JBPM is also ready to collaborate with local authorities, sharing incident information and identifying high-risk areas for joint inspections and coordinated actions before the monsoon season or periods of bad weather.