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A tragic accident in Penang, Malaysia, on Sept 18 claimed the lives of a Chinese father and daughter when strong winds toppled a wall with sacred fig trees and bamboo, crushing their car. The incident occurred at the Pinang Peranakan Mansion in Lebuh Gereja, where they had been visiting.
The victims were identified as Ms. Liu Xin Xin, 36, and her father, though details about him were not disclosed. The duo's driver, a local woman named Ms. Har, 52, sustained minor injuries. Two other parked cars were also damaged in the accident.
Security footage captured the moments leading up to the tragedy. Ms. Har, wearing a red T-shirt, was seen entering the car at 1:26 p.m., while Ms. Liu, in a white dress, took one last photo of the mansion before joining her father in the vehicle. The car waited for about 40 seconds due to another vehicle entering the compound before they attempted to leave.
Shortly after, strong winds caused the branches and leaves to shake violently, and the wall collapsed onto their car. Firefighters worked for three hours to retrieve the bodies, and both Ms. Liu and her father were pronounced dead by 5 p.m.
Ms. Har, speaking through tears, recalled the tragic moment when Ms. Liu briefly held her hand after the crash, though she did not survive.
A worker at the mansion revealed that the trees had been growing for nearly 20 years, and there had been previous complaints about the potential danger. The rescue operation was complicated by bad weather and the tight parking area.
An investigation is underway, according to Penang Island City Council Mayor A. Rajendran. He also noted ongoing efforts to address tree maintenance in Penang, including the felling of unhealthy trees.
Source: https://www.straitstimes.com
