What caused the old tree outside Muzium Negara to fall?

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A Decades-Old Tree Fell Due to a Thunderstorm Outside Muzium Negara

A decades-old tree located on Jalan Travers, opposite Muzium Negara, fell during a thunderstorm on May 27, 2021. The incident resulted in two individuals being trapped, one in a car and another on a motorcycle, though both survived with the car driver unharmed and the motorcyclist sustaining only minor leg injuries. The fallen tree caused a significant obstruction, leading to a complete traffic standstill on both sides of the road and necessitating road closures for its removal.
Thunderstorm Identified as the Direct Cause

The immediate cause of the tree's toppling was identified as a severe thunderstorm that passed through the area. Emergency services were alerted around 3:21 PM and dispatched to the scene, where they found the large tree had fallen across the roadway, impacting both a car and a motorcycle. The force of the storm was sufficient to uproot the mature tree, leading to its collapse.
Immediate Aftermath and Rescue Operations

Following the incident, rescue personnel from the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department, along with the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), and highway maintenance workers, were involved in clearing the debris. Social media images depicted the extent of the obstruction, with the tree blocking the entire width of the road towards the city centre and its branches covering lanes on the opposite side. Traffic congestion was severe, prompting authorities to implement road closures to facilitate the removal of the tree.
Contributing Factors to Tree Stability

While the thunderstorm was the direct trigger, the stability of mature trees can be influenced by several factors, particularly under severe weather conditions. General observations in arboriculture suggest that factors such as the tree's overall health, the saturation of the soil around its root system due to heavy rain, the integrity of the root structure, and the specific species of the tree can all play a role in its susceptibility to falling during storms. Though not detailed in the account, these underlying conditions are typically considered when assessing why a tree might succumb to wind and rain.

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What caused the old tree outside Muzium Negara to fall?

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