SYDNEY (AFP) - Four children were killed and several more were seriously injured when a bouncy castle was blown into the air at an end-of-term party in Australia on Thursday (Dec 16), police said.
"I can now sadly confirm that four children have died, four are in a critical condition and one in a serious condition," police from the island of Tasmania said.
Police had earlier confirmed one fatality and a number of other children critically injured after they fell from a height of about 10m when the bouncy castle was blown into the air at a primary school in Devonport, a city on Tasmania's north coast.
Images from national broadcaster ABC showed blue tarps hanging from trees near a ditch where the jumping castle came to land, with emotional police officers nearby.
Meanwhile, state premier Peter Gutwein told media in Hobart: "People have been, as I understand it, seriously injured, and we currently have all of the relevant emergency services on site."
Several rescue helicopters and ambulances were sent to the scene at Hillcrest Primary School, police said.
"There has been an accident onsite at our school. We are closing the school for the rest of the day," Hillcrest posted on Facebook.
"We ask that parents come to collect their children as a matter of urgency."
The school was celebrating the end of term before breaking for the Christmas holidays.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the incident as "shattering and heartbreaking".
"Young children on a fun day out, together with their families and it turns to such horrific tragedy at this time of year. It just breaks your heart," Mr Morrison told reporters.
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