Termites Attack

2 May 2011 - A forestry expert investigating a fatal rail accident in Taiwan said termites gnawed a large hole in a 100-year old tree, causing it to fall and crush an oncoming narrow-gauge train. All of the five fatalities in Wednesday's accident near the mountain resort of Alishan were tourists from China. Dozens of people were injured in the mishap. During an inspection late on Thursday, forestry expert Wang Yanan said the hole in the tree was hidden from sight, and that it toppled over at an unfortunate moment. Officials said the conductor halted the train after the tree hit one of the coaches, but that ,large branches caused several others to overturn in seconds later.