Fallen tree branch damages two Yishun flats, showering one homeowner with shattered glass
On July 31, workers from Golden Landscaping were removing a tree next to Block 259, Yishun Street 22, when the incident happened.
SINGAPORE - Recovering from the flu, Mr Irfan was resting on the couch in his living room when a tree branch smashed through the windows , showering him with glass.
Even though the sofa was next to the windows and glass landed on his face, Mr Irfan, a workplace safety and health trainer, was uninjured.
On July 31, at around 9.30am, workers from Golden Landscaping were removing a tree next to Block 259, Yishun Street 22 when the incident happened.
MP for Nee Soon East, Mr Jackson Lam, said two units were damaged.
The homeowner of the affected unit on the second floor, who only wanted to be known as Mr Irfan, 43, said: ' It was very loud, and it felt like the whole structure was going to collapse.'
His wife, who only wanted to be known as Madam Salfarina, 41, and who was working in the next room, was also not injured.
Madam Salfarina, an executive at a healthcare insurance company, said she heard a loud bang and the home shook .
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Mr Irfan said he could not hear temporarily after the impact.
He said: 'I had to call my son to check my face (to see if I was bleeding).'
When The Straits Times arrived at 2pm, cracks were on their living room walls, and the window grilles were bent out of shape.
The couple said they were grateful their two younger children, aged eight and one, were not home when the incident happened.
Their eldest child, a 22-year-old son, was sleeping in his room at the time.
Mr Lam, visited the family at around 2pm. He assured them the landscaping company would pay for the damages, and the town council would facilitate the process.
Mr Irfan said he could not hear temporarily after the impact.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SALFARINA
He said in a statement the tree had spot decay, weakening its structure.
And the ongoing works to remove it aggravated the condition, leading to a tree branch falling and damaging two HDB units. No one was hurt.
He said the town council was activated to clear the debris, and assess the impact of the damages. Another team was working on the removal of the tree for safety reasons.
Mr Lam said: 'I spoke with the (Nee Soon) Town Council's Horticulture team and understand that necessary safety precaution was taken before the removal of the tree.
'Notices were put up, the area was cordoned off, nearby structures were removed where needed, and visual checks were done before work began.'
He said they were helping the affected families.
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