Heavy rain from Monday to Wednesday toppled 157 trees in Da Nang, and city crews had to remove 71 of them while 86 were pruned or supported to stay upright. The high number of falls, despite the lack of a major storm, raises important safety questions.

Le Huy Hoang, head of the Technical Division at Da Nang Greenery Parks Company, explained that rain trees and yellow flamboyant trees were the species most frequently uprooted. Their brittle trunks and root systems constrained by limited soil space make them especially vulnerable.

He added that heavy rain saturated the soil, weakening the bond between roots and ground, while strong easterly winds added pressure to the canopies and trunks. The combination of wet soil and wind increased the chance of trees toppling.

Urban infrastructure in Da Nang limits underground space, forcing tree roots to spread horizontally along pavements. This horizontal growth raises the risk of uprooting, especially for the species mentioned. Da Nang Greenery Parks Company carries out annual pruning and installs support systems, but the company acknowledges that these measures cannot eliminate the risk entirely.

The company plans to replace unsuitable species and revise planting standards based on research from Hue University. Over time, these changes aim to reduce future tree falls in the city.