Tree collapses on woman, 38, & her son, 12, in Tampines during heavy rain, both taken to hospital

A woman was walking home with her two young sons in Tampines on Oct. 24 when a sudden downpour occurred.

As they were crossing the road, they heard a loud sound, and a huge tree came crashing down on them.

"Everything happened so fast," the woman, Zila Fazlan, told Mothership.

Zila and her 12-year-old son were pinned underneath the tree for a moment before managing to free themselves.

Fortunately, her younger son escaped unharmed.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that they received a call for assistance at the junction of Tampines Street 32 and 34 at about 10:25pm.

Zila said she was conveyed to Changi General Hospital, while her son was admitted to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH).

Sudden storm

"We were waiting to cross the road at the traffic light when a sudden storm hit," Zila said.

They continued to cross the road and were about to step onto the pavement when they heard a loud "clanking" sound and looked up to see a huge tree suddenly crashing down on them.

Both she and her 12-year-old were trapped under the tree, and she could hear him shouting for her, she said.

"Somehow, he managed to free himself, even though he can’t explain how. Moments later, I also managed to get myself out, but I honestly don’t remember how I did it," she said.

Zila described it as "pure shock and survival instinct".

Thankfully, her seven-year-old son escaped unharmed.

Hospitalised for a few days

A passer-by saw Zila and her sons and brought them to a shelter, where they also helped to call an ambulance.

Her son was admitted to KKH with abrasions, back pain, and a bump on his head, Zila shared.

He was discharged on Saturday afternoon in stable condition.

However, he remains "traumatised" and is afraid to go back to the same road, Zila shared.

Meanwhile, she was discharged on Oct. 28 after being treated for abrasions, lower back pain, and a swollen knee.

While the experience was terrifying, Zila said she was very grateful to the passer-by and the emergency responders who came to their aid "so quickly".

Part of pedestrian traffic light came off

Zila shared that her cousin walked by the accident site the next day and saw that part of the pedestrian traffic light had come off as well.

She belatedly realised that the "clanking" sound she heard was the metal part of the traffic light coming off, and that it could have hit them.

"It was a near-miss," she said.

Zila added that the hospital bills will only be sent to her in a few weeks' time and she will submit the documents to the National Parks Board (NParks).

She said NParks personnel showed up at the hospital to seek more information on the incident from her.

NParks' statement

In response to Mothership's queries, NParks' group director of streetscape Oh Cheow Sheng said NParks was alerted to an incident involving a Yellow Flame tree (Peltophorum pterocarpum) which affected a family of three at the junction of Tampines Street 32 and Tampines Street 34 on the evening of Oct. 24, 2025.

"NParks is in touch with them, and our priority now is to accord assistance to them," Oh said.

The tree had failed during a Sumatra squall that brought about "heavy thundery showers and gusty winds", he explained.

The tree debris has been cleared and NParks staff had conducted precautionary checks for the trees in the surrounding vicinity on Oct. 25, he added.

Top photos courtesy of Zila