The incident occurred around 14.15h on the 25th of March along Avenida Cabo de Gata where it joins Calle América in the said city.

At least a dozen witnesses called 112 to say that a large palm tree had fallen onto the road, hitting a car with two occupants and a motorbike rider.

The Policía Local, fire service and an ambulance were despatched and the victims taken to the general hospital

The tree snapped in two and after falling against traffic lights, landed on top of a passing car and motorbike. First reports spoke of three injured but by 17.00h the hospital authorities confirmed that a 56-year-old man had died from the injuries sustained.

A second person was admitted to the Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) at the Hospital Universitario de Torrecárdenas with a severe head injury caused when the trunk smashed down onto the roof of the car.

Winds gusting up to 90kph were raging along the whole coast of Almería at the time and 4-metre waves were pounding the beaches.

(News: City & Metropolitan Area, Almeria, Andalucia)