Inp.polri.go.id - Makassar.  Nine visitors were killed and eight others injured when a large tree fell during a severe rainstorm at Bulu Matanre, a cultural heritage site in Mattabulu, Soppeng, South Sulawesi, on Sunday (11/3/2024).

The victims, all residents of Soppeng, were sheltering in huts when the tree fell amid heavy rain and strong winds. 

Soppeng Sub-regional Police Chief Superintendent Muh Yusuf Usman confirmed that nine people were dead, and the injured were immediately taken to Latemmamala Soppeng General Hospital for medical treatment, according to antaranews.com.

The accident occurred around 12.30 pm. as intense winds caused the old tree to collapse onto the shelters. Authorities recorded 17 casualties in total, with nine fatalities and eight injuries.

Police have closed the site and cordoned off the area for investigation. The victims, including Wa Menneng, Agus, and others, have been identified, and their bodies have been returned to their families for burial.

Bulu Matanre, a cultural landmark known for the tomb of Syekh Abdul Majid, holds significant historical and cultural value in Soppeng, serving as the traditional site for local rituals like Pattaungeng, honoring ancestral heritage and community gatherings.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)