GEORGE TOWN: Firefighters took three hours to free two victims trapped inside a car after a tree uprooted and landed on three vehicles at a tourist attraction in Lebuh Gereja here today.
Fire and Rescue Department northeast district zone officer Mohd Syafiq Nor Azman said they were alerted to the incident about 2.19pm and arrived six minutes later.
"When we arrived, we found a tree uprooted and landed on three cars. In one of the cars, two passengers, each in the front and back seat, were trapped.
"It took us three hours to free the two victims, both of whom a Chinese nationals. The man is in his 50s while the woman in her 30s.
"Both were confirmed dead," he told newsmen at the scene, adding at the time of the incident, both victims had just gotten inside the car after visiting the tourist attraction.
Elaborating, Syafiq said the huge tree, which was attached to the building, had uprooted, bringing with it part of the building concrete which landed on the three vehicles.
"We believe the incident could have been due to the heavy rain and strong winds which hit Penang in recent days," he added.
It was reported earlier that two people, believed to be foreign nationals, were killed when a tree uprooted and fell on their car in Lebuh Gereja.
The victims, a father and daughter believed to be visiting from China, were inside the car parked within the tourist attraction when the tree fell.
Both were seated on the left side of the vehicle.
Meanwhile, state Local Government Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said they had received many calls of uprooted trees since this morning.
Penang has been hit by heavy rain, strong winds, high tide and big waves in recent days, creating havoc in various parts of the state.