A massive pine tree that’s stood at the base of the naga staircase leading up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep since 1965 came crashing down around 9:30am today (September 14), scattering branches across a wide stretch of the walkway and missing a roadside shop by what looked like inches. Nobody was hurt.
Video from the scene (see VDO at https://youtube.com/shorts/RHRsFaA2lEk) caught the moment the tree gave way. Locals say the trunk had been rotting for a while, and when it finally split, the weight of the whole thing sent debris flying in every direction. One red songthaew parked nearby wasn’t so lucky, crushed under the falling trunk.
Park officials, temple workers, and nearby residents spent the morning cutting up branches and hauling away the wreckage so people could get up and down the stairs again, while also checking the surrounding area for anything else that might be ready to go.
What’s drawing the most attention, though, is what residents say happened before the tree fell. According to locals, they’d flagged the tree to various agencies more than once, worried about its condition. Each time, officials came out, looked it over, and reported back that there was nothing to worry about.
The incident has left people in the area asking harder questions about how, and how often, large trees along Chiang Mai’s busiest tourist routes actually get inspected. Doi Suthep sees heavy foot traffic from both locals and visitors year-round.
