A 64-year-old villager in Hong Kong died on Friday after a tree branch snapped and landed on him during clearing work.

Police said the incident took place in Ng Tung Chai, Tai Po at about 3pm, adding that an investigation was under way.

A source said the victim had joined several of his neighbours in using ropes to clear dead branches from a six-metre-tall tree (20 feet) in the village.

One of the branches snapped in the process and struck the man, causing him to lose balance and hit his head on the ground, the insider added.

The victim was sent to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and later certified dead at 6.01pm.

Falling trees have led to a number of injuries among residents over the past weeks.

On October 17, a tree collapsed during the passage of Typhoon Nesat, injuring seven people when it hit a bus travelling on a section of Peak Road. They were sent to Queen Mary Hospital for treatment.

A poinciana tree in Ho Man Tin, measuring 10 metres in height, landed on a school bus and three private cars on September 16, injuring two people. Authorities subsequently ordered an inspection of all such roadside trees, with 59 later marked for removal and 130 ordered to be trimmed.