SINGAPORE - The Housing and Development Board (HDB) will remove the once-picturesque "Punggol Lone Tree" on Dec 16, citing public safety as parts of it are falling off without warning.

It said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Dec 9) afternoon that arborists had recently checked on the tree and certified that it was dead.

"Although we recognise that this is the popular Punggol #instagram tree, we would advise park visitors to stay away from it," HDB added.

The tree, which belongs to the fast-growing Albizia species that originated from eastern Indonesia, sits isolated atop a small hill along a waterway.

It was struck by lightning in July and lost half its branches.

Extremely popular with photographers and couples enamoured by the unique backdrop it provides, over 1,400 photos of the tree have been tagged #instagramtree on the social media platform.

And despite the tree's withered state, people have still been making the trip to visit it.