SINGAPORE - Three people were trapped briefly in a car after a huge tree branch fell on the vehicle in Geylang Lorong 17 on Saturday evening (Jan 27).

The Straits Times understands that the silver Hyundai Elantra was travelling towards Sims Avenue at around 6pm, when the tree branch landed on its roof with a loud thud.

The driver, a 62-year-old engineer who wanted to be known as Mr Li, told Chinese-language newspaper Shin Min Daily News on Sunday that he was driving his friend, who is her 50s, and her 29-year-old daughter home when the incident happened.

"There was no time for me to react. I was driving and the next moment, I heard a loud crash and the branch seemed to have fallen from the sky and landed on my car," he said.

Mr Li added that the impact of the fallen tree branch left a dent on the roof of his car.

The front and back windscreens were also shattered, causing shards of glass to scatter all over the seats, he added.

ST understands that there were no injuries.

Mr Li said that the three of them were trapped in the car for about 10 minutes, as all the doors were blocked.

Afraid that the vehicle may catch fire, they managed to force their way out of the car through the driver's seat window, he added.

About six passers-by also stepped forward to help them.

Said Mr Li: "We were only about five minutes away from our destination, and this had to happen to us. Luckily, we are all right. However, I just bought my car two years ago and it would be awful if I can't claim any insurance for the damage."