Strong Winds Topple 100-Year-Old Tree, Killing Teen Girl and Injuring Another

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders.

 

In an incident on National Children’s Day, a 100-year-old sugar palm tree, was toppled by strong winter winds, killing one schoolgirl and severely injuring another in Khantarawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province.

 

The incident occurred in the grounds of Wat Thammamongkhon in Khum Thao Pattana Subdistrict. The tree, weakened by internal decay, succumbed to powerful gusts of wind. As the tree fell, it struck two girls, aged 15 and 16, who were riding past on a motorbike.

 

The 15-year-old victim, identified as Ice, died at the scene. The other girl, Palm, suffered critical injuries to her leg, which later required amputation at Khon Kaen Hospital after initial treatment at Maha Sarakham Hospital.

 

Mr. Adisak Rattha, the village head of Ban Yang Samakki, described the moment he was informed of the incident. “The winds were strong all day. That evening, villagers came to tell me someone had been killed by a falling tree. I arrived at the scene to find Ice pinned beneath the palm tree, lifeless, while Palm was seriously injured. Medical personnel from a nearby clinic, just 10 metres away, provided first aid before transferring them to hospital.”

 

The towering sugar palm, which exceeded the height of a nearby Bodhi tree, also damaged a section of the temple wall, severed high- and low-voltage power lines, and broke one utility pole as it fell. Villagers have since cut the tree into sections using chainsaws. The strong winds, described locally as “lomsamut” or whirlwinds, are believed to have caused the tree’s collapse.

 

Ice’s grieving mother, Ms. Janpen, recounted eerie premonitions leading up to the tragedy. Two days before the incident, she heard objects falling in the house twice. On the second occasion, a photo frame of her daughter fell and shattered, while her own frame remained intact. “I didn’t think it was a sign something would happen to my child,” she said tearfully.

 

At the time of the incident, the girls were returning home after purchasing ingredients for a barbecue. The tree fell as they passed beneath it on their motorbike. Ice’s mother expressed her shock, saying, “I was paralysed with fear when I heard what happened.”

 

Ms. Janpen also revealed that the family had received assurances of compensation through the motorbike’s mandatory insurance and her daughter’s school accident policy. She holds no grievances, recognising the event as a natural disaster. “The tree was old and decayed, and no one could have anticipated this.”

 

She urged authorities to regularly monitor roadside trees, particularly those with advanced age or signs of decay, to prevent similar incidents in the future.

 

-- 2025-01-14

 

 

[Tropicalevo]

That is tragic and ironic.

A girl named Palm, hit by a sugar palm that also killed her friend.

RIP Ice.

Hope Palm recovers from all of this.