Three family members injured after being crushed by a falling tree

GEORGETOWN: An elderly married couple and their grandchild sustained injuries after the car they were travelling in was crushed by a falling tree in an incident along Jalan Macalister, here today.

Penang Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations and Firefighting Division Assistant Director John Sagun Francis said the department received an emergency call at 9.12 am, and subsequently, a team of eight personnel from the Jalan Perak Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) was deployed to the location.

“All three victims who were trapped in the car, however, were successfully removed by members of the public at the scene before the arrival of the fire brigade,” he said in a statement today.

He said that until 12 noon, fire personnel together with local authority teams were still actively carrying out cutting and clearing operations of the fallen tree debris at the incident site to ensure public safety and smooth traffic flow.

Meanwhile, via a Facebook post, Tanjong Member of Parliament Lim Hui Ying, who is also Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, said based on information so far, three individuals reported injured have been sent to the hospital for treatment.

Hui Ying said her team is also on the way to the incident location to obtain further information, as well as to provide necessary assistance.

“May all victims be safe; members of the public passing through the area are also advised to be careful and obey traffic instructions at the incident site,” she said.

The incident also caused traffic congestion in the affected area, and the road was closed to allow for clearing works.

BERNAMA