Two friends crushed to death by falling tree

Two men were killed when a tree, believed to have been uprooted during a heavy downpour, fell on them at Bukit Layat, bordering Setiu and Kuala Terengganu near here Sunday.

Khairullah Samad, 22, from Kampung Bukit Layat and Mohd Zuki Ismail, 39, from Kampung Bintang who were sheltered in a tent erected under the tree, died on the spot.

The incident was believed to have occurred about 9am.

The bodies were retrieved from the hill situated deep in the jungle and it took the search team about three hours to bring out to the nearest main road, which was at about 11.30pm.

It was learnt the duo had gone into the jungle about 8pm Saturday, in search of wood, while accompanied by several friends.

Khairullah's brother, Mahassan, 59, said the victim had initially gone into the jungle with several friends but later split into smaller groups.

"The last time I saw him was over a month ago but today, I received the tragic news he was crushed to death by a tree," he said when met here Sunday.

Meanwhile, Kuala Terengganu police deputy chief, Superintendent Sufian Sulaiman said the police were alerted about the incident at 5.15pm. -- Bernama