Bangkok eyes its dangerous trees
Bangkok has nearly 3,000 large trees in public places in need of attention to prevent them falling and injuring passers-by or damaging property, the governor’s chief adviser said on Tuesday.
Wanlop Suwandee said a survey of trees under the care of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had found 1,925 trees at risk along roads and in other public places.
Of those, 785 require bracing, 965 should be moved and 175 need branches trimmed and their height reduced. Another 1,026 trees in public parks also need bracing and 164 must be moved, he added.
Wanlop said BMA Environment Office arborists would soon carry out another inspection and work with district offices to tackle the riskiest situations quickly. Wanlop stressed that the city’s ambition to maintain green spaces would be kept in mind when deciding whether trees should be cut down or trimmed.
Heavy rains and strong winds felled several large trees in Bangkok and adjacent provinces early this month, resulting in property damage, injury and worse. A 25-year-old woman motorcyclist was killed on Soi Chidlom on May 13 when she was struck by a power pole knocked over by a falling tree.
