Woman dies after large tree crushes tent at campsite

I’m curious to know if this was one of those private camp grounds with roped off campsites. If it was I hope the owners have public liability insurance because this is gonna be one heck of a claim.

What kind of tree was it? It’s good to have information because not all trees have the same root systems - some are fibrous like a naga negi onion while others are tap root like a carrot.

How can campers identify trees with healthy leafy canopies in appearance but with severely decomposed root systems prone to fall after loosened soil from rain so as to avoid pitching tents in the vicinity?

What kind of tree was it?

Looks like an oak tree to me, a big one and a clearly dead one at that.

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20230416/k10014040161000.html

Lindsay

unfortunately in Japan when you go camping, hiking or riding your bicycle, the person in question should have insurance. The facilities here are protected. They usually have form for patrons to sign that in case of an accident, theft or "act of God"/nature happens, the are not at fault, at least not directly. So a claim is not due here. Sorry to say but this ain't the west.

Camping under a tree is not good in case there is lightning.

What are the chances of that happening to a person? A tree like that can live hundreds of years and the moment it falls is when someone is sleeping directly below it.

The facilities here are protected. They usually have form for patrons to sign that in case of an accident, theft or "act of God"/nature happens, the are not at fault, at least not directly. So a claim is not due here.

A person has been killed and the police will investigate. The camp owner will be at fault if the tree was old and he did cut is for safety. A camp owner has a responsibility to manage and maintain the camp for the safety of customers

That's terrible! And such a young couple too. Really sad.

Unlucky that's all. we all going to meet our faith one way or another and this couple just met theirs.

Requiescat in pace. Too young... And the profound trauma for her partner. Issun saki... ne?

But I kind of know the feeling. We've got 19 100+ ft Doug Firs surrounding our house which gives us something to very actively NOT think about when the Pacific sends energetic gifts of wind our way...

I was just commenting last week that the trees near Jingu Stadium that some people want to keep will become a safety hazard as they get old. I got a lot of down votes (-12) 6/18 for saying that. Well, this incident is exactly what happens when you insist on keeping trees around forever. Yup, I told y'all.

What kind of tree was it? It’s good to have information because not all trees have the same root systems - some are fibrous like a naga negi onion while others are tap root like a carrot.

How can campers identify trees with healthy leafy canopies in appearance but with severely decomposed root systems prone to fall after loosened soil from rain so as to avoid pitching tents in the vicinity?

This is an article about a sad accident, and not kyoiku television. Do some research yourself if you are that concerned and want to know more. Check the Japanese news for information about the location and type of tree.

If you really want to get to the "root" of the story, you should do it yourself.

And the campsite will be closed whilst an investigation is carried out?

Looking on the tv news it seemed like a riverside forested area where camping was allowed, as compared to a Camp-Jo or formal camping ground. Not sure - but definitely not a holiday park.

And the tree was huge.

Sadly very unfortunate timing and location for the couple. If their little tent was a meter to the side, probably no injuries at all.

So unlucky.

Poor couple especially the wife. This is really just bad luck. Nobody can really predict something like this happening.

Risk - everywhere, they could have been at home and a deadly fire far more likely. Life and camping must go on.

RIP!

Yes, it looks like a big and no doubt very old oak. Its by a river, and so may have been damaged by wind at some point. The ground around it is completely clear, so campers may have driven very close to the tree. Modern camping involves filling cars with as much stuff as possible, so its helpful to unload where you set the stuff up. Some people have full kitchens and masses of furniture that all needs to be carried.

He's lost his wife, but wishing the guy a full recovery. Trees come down all the time (typhoons, disease, animal damage, ..) so every campsite should be insured, even if they are not.

Yes, it looks like a big and no doubt very old oak. Its by a river, and so may have been damaged by wind at some point.

An oak tree that large should have an extensive root system. Being close to the river, rot, more likely, than wind, caused the tree to lose its root system.

Whomever was taking care of the site, more than likely, took things for granted that the trees were fine, based upon the size and growth. I'll bet they check now, after the fact of course.,

Yes, it looks like a big and no doubt very old oak.

It doesn't look like an oak from the picture. The Japanese rarely plant North American oaks. The native oaks do not get to be that size either.

An oak tree that large should have an extensive root system.

Oak tree roots are vulnerable to root rot. Most likely decomposed root sytem.

It doesn't look like an oak from the picture. The Japanese rarely plant North American oaks. The native oaks do not get to be that size either

All wrong. Other flavors of oak do exist.

I think it’s a Mongolian oak, and they do grow very big.

Moreover it may have been infested and killed during the ナラ枯れoutbreak in the last few years that has killed millions of oaks

Good luck to anyone trying to name every variety of Japanese oak. I know seven or eight and there'll be many more. Some of them are evergreen.

As a freebie for you, one is "shii", the "shii" in "shiitake" mushroom.

The type of tree is irrelevant to the deceased.

What a tragedy! There was no heavy rain or severe wind storm reported. Perhaps it had rained heavily the day or days before they set up tent near by. However, although it was 18 meters tall and had a 17 centimeter circumferance it must have been a very heavy hard wood and, they must have set up tent about 10 meters from it for them to have borne the full force of its fall. Poor young couple. What a tragedy!

Freak accident but still I wonder if something could have been done to prevent it. It may not be realistic to expect for all trees to be regularly checked to see if they are likely to topple, but it could be justified to do it for those that people will approach frequently, parks and campsites included.

As a freebie for you, one is "shii", the "shii" in "shiitake" mushroom.

I would not like to see a shiitake in the base of an oak tree. Those are symptons of rot.

Such cruel fate for a couple with such a bright future.

Let's all learn from this and value LIFE even more!

I'm sure they'd want everyone to enjoy camping, after all MANY more die at home due to fires etc.

Same thing happened to a neighbor while I was a child, didn't see the accident but knowing about it made me walk wide around trees for a year.