Tree that fell on Hong Kong bus during No 3 typhoon warning, injuring 7 passengers, was on private land, Development Bureau says
- Injured passengers all discharged from hospital, authorities say
- Leading arborist says he suspects decay affected tree’s trunk and branches and caused collapse
A tree that fell on a bus on in Hong Kong during a storm and injured seven passengers was on private property and the land owner was responsible for its maintenance, the Development Bureau said on Tuesday.
The news came after the Hospital Authority said all the injured had been discharged.
The accident, which occurred on a main road on The Peak during a No 3 typhoon warning signal on Monday, happened just a month after a flame tree on a roadside crashed onto a school bus in Ho Man Tin, injuring three people.
But a bureau spokeswoman said that inquiries had established the fallen tree, which was on a slope next to The Peak police station, belonged to a private owner.
“After our extensive observation, we have reason to believe that the tree fell down due to the heavy wind on Monday night, although the owner should contact and arrange for qualified professionals to carry out inspections of the trees involved and nearby to ensure public safety,” she said.
The three-metre (10 feet) tall tree, a persimmon-leaved litsea, fell onto the double-decker bus, a No 15 service operated by New World First Bus, travelling down Peak Road to Central at about 7.40pm on Monday.