BALING: An elderly woman died after being struck by a falling kapok tree in front of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pulai here today.
The victim, Rafiah Zakaria, 84, died at the scene due to severe injuries. Baling fire and rescue station chief Assistant Fire Officer Mohd Jamil Mat Daud said a team was despatched to the location after receiving a call at 3.49pm.
"Upon arrival, it was found that a kapok tree had fallen on the elderly woman. Based on preliminary information, the victim is believed to have been collecting wood at the site not far from her home.
"The firemen had to use special equipment to cut the fallen tree before extricating the victim's body," he said.
The remains were handed over to the police for further action.
The kapok tree, known as Ceiba pentandra, is a large tree with extensive roots that can grow up to 27 metres high in Southeast Asia. It was once cultivated for the cotton-like fibre in its seed pods.