Fallen trees at Monkey Forest, Ubud.

GIANYAR, Bali (BPN) – Two foreign tourists were killed after being struck by a large tree that fell at the Monkey Forest tourist attraction in Ubud, on Tuesday (December 10, 2024) at approximately 12:25 local time.

Eyewitnesses reported that the tragic incident occurred during heavy rain accompanied by strong winds in the area. 

The tree with a diameter of approximately 2 meters, located next to the Prajapati temple, suddenly fell eastward.

Some tourists ran to seek safety after hearing the cracking sound of the tree, but some tourists were hit by the falling tree.

The deceased were identified as FJC, 32, a woman from France, and KH, 42, a woman from South Korea. In addition to the two fatalities, another tourist LS, 45, also a South Korean woman, sustained injuries.

Monkey Forest staff, along with several tourists, immediately assisted the victims. The injured were taken to Kenak Medika Ubud hospital by ambulance, while other tourists with minor injuries were treated at the Monkey Forest clinic.

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Ubud Police Chief Comr. Gusti Nyoman Sudarsana arrived at the scene with his team at 12:50 and led the evacuation and clearing of the fallen tree, as well as overseeing the handling and investigation.

Bali Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Jansen Avitus Panjaitan stated that the weather has been extremely severe and unpredictable in recent days, with rain and strong winds.

For this reason, the Bali Police urge the public to be cautious and avoid taking shelter under trees, especially large ones, during rain and wind.

“Take care of the environmental cleanliness and avoid littering to prevent drains and rivers from becoming blocked, as this can lead to flooding. Additionally, avoid traveling to locations such as mountains or hills, as they are prone to landslides, which have frequently occurred,” he concluded.

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