Five members of a family died after a large palm tree fell on their house in Barangay Cawayanin, Pitogo, Quezon Province.
According to initial reports, the family was asleep when the towering palm tree collapsed and crushed their bamboo-and-nipa house late at night. Authorities identified the victims as members of the Ubatay family, who were residents of the said barangay. The accident occurred while six family members were inside the home, but only the eldest child managed to survive.
Rescue teams and barangay officials immediately responded to the scene but were unable to save the five victims due to severe injuries. Investigators said the impact of the falling tree instantly killed most of the family members as they lay asleep inside their home.
Officials believe the soft ground caused by recent rainfall may have loosened the tree’s roots, leading to the unexpected collapse that crushed the family’s house. Responders spent several hours clearing debris and recovering the victims’ bodies from the wreckage.
Local authorities have extended assistance to the surviving child and the relatives of the victims as part of the ongoing relief and support operation.
This heartbreaking tragedy serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by unstable trees and weak structures, especially in areas frequently hit by strong rains.
📷 Photo by Ellaine Javier Agupitan
