Falling tree injures eight children at California summer camp

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Officials stand by a tree that fell near the Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena, California on 28 JulyImage source, AP
Image caption,
Investigators are trying to determine why the tree fell

Eight children have been injured after a large pine tree suddenly fell onto a group of youngsters at a California summer camp.

Two were hospitalised and in critical condition after the 75-foot-tall tree fell on Tuesday, authorities said.

What caused the tree to fall is unclear. No high winds were reported.

The children had been playing at "Water Wonders Camp" in Pasadena when they heard a cracking sound and the tree collapsed.

"We are bringing out an independent arborist to investigate what could have caused this," said Pasadena fire department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian.

The injured children were between six and eight years old.

Image source, AP
Image caption,
Two of the children are still listed in critical condition at a local hospital

The week-long summer camp, held by a local children's museum, was just wrapping up for the day when the tree fell.

Hanna Lin, a camp volunteer, said the children had been making arts and crafts under the tree.

"I myself saw two children carried out on stretchers and they were pretty bloody," Ms Lin told KABC-TV. "That brought tears to my eyes."

California is enduring a severe drought, causing residents to scale back dramatically on water use.

However authorities say it is not clear whether that could have caused the fall.