HANOI – A 10m-long tree branch fell on a group of elderly people exercising early on Aug 9 morning in a park in Ho Chi Minh City, killing two and injuring three others, Vietnam media reported.

       Le Duc Thanh, chairman of district 1 People’s Committee, said two people aged 62 and 60 died on the spot at Tao Dan park.

       Three others aged between 60 and 70 were taken to local hospitals. Among them, one is suffering from traumatic brain injury, while another has been diagnosed with a fractured cervical vertebra.

       “The branch that caused the incident was still fresh, and there were no signs of disease or pest infestation beforehand,” Thanh said.

       A representative from Ho Chi Minh City Greenery Parks Co. Ltd reported that the tree is around 20m tall and the fallen branch is nearly 10m long and around 20 to 30cm thick.

       The branch fell when it was not rainy or windy, VnExpress reported. XINHUA