AUSTRALIA: Christmas lights have been turned off and a candlelight vigil was held in the Australian town where five children died after falling from a bouncy castle that was lifted into the air by a gust of wind.
Three children were still in critical condition in the hospital and one child was discharged following the incident on Thursday in the island state of Tasmania.
Children at the Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport were celebrating the end of the school year when a sudden gust of wind lifted the bouncy castle almost 10 metres (33 feet) into the air.
The township, with a population around 25,000, has rallied to support the families of the victims and the wider community around the school where the accident occurred. A candlelight vigil was held outside the school Thursday night and some residents turned off their Christmas lights out of respect for the victims. Devonport Mayor Annette Rockliff said the tragedy would “undoubtedly rock the close-knit community for a long time.”
“As mayor my heart aches for my community. As a mother and a grandmother, I am rocked to the core. What should have been a day full of fun and celebration for the last day of the school year has ended in an unimaginable way,” said Rockliff, adding that the Australian flag would be flown at half-staff over the town hall.
– YAHOO NEWS