An 8-metre-long dry branch of a Delonix regia (commonly known as phoenix flower and flamboyant tree) broke off yesterday, the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) said in a statement yesterday adding that the branch was believed to have broken off due to exposure to strong sunlight and the recent downpours.
According to the statement, the tree is 112 years old, and is located on Avenida de Sidónio Pais.
The statement noted that the recent high temperatures and torrential rain accelerated the ageing of the branch, and the rain had also added weight to the branch, finally causing it to break off.
According to the statement, the tree has been on the government’s official old tree protection list since September 2016.
The statement pointed out that in 2012, the bureau discovered during routine inspection that the tree’s trunk was hollow and, therefore, support frames were added to the thicker branches of the old tree. The bureau also installed crown bracing ropes between branches to strengthen the tree’s stability, the statement underlined.
The bureau stressed that the centenarian tree is now in good health, and that the bureau will follow up immediately and conduct a thorough inspection and pruning of the crown soon.
The bureau urged landscapers, landowners and the general public to regularly check and follow up on the condition of trees before the monsoon season in particular, while also taking preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of accidents.
The bureau promised in the statement that it will continue to monitor the situation of old trees throughout the city.
Anyone who finds abnormalities in the trees can contact the bureau by calling 2833 7676 or via “IAM Connect”, according to the statement.
This undated handout photo provided by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday shows the 112-year-old phoenix flower tree on Avenida de Sidónio Pais the branch of which broke off recently.
