A 9-year-old boy has died after a large tree fell onto a playground at an Elementary School in Massachusetts, USA, shortly after students were dismissed for the day. Two other people, including another child and an adult, were also injured and later released from hospital.
The child was identified by family members as Zakaria Bel Qaid, who was playing tag with friends and his younger sister when the trunk of the tree fell through a chain link fence and onto the playground.
Reports from the scene showed the tree resting across playground equipment and fencing. Witnesses reported gusty wind conditions at the time of the incident, while local weather stations reportedly recorded wind gusts exceeding 40 mph in nearby areas.
The tree was located on a neighbouring historic house property. Officials from the Family Society said the site had recently been assessed by a certified arborist and the tree had not been identified as a hazard. Investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the collapse, including the condition of the tree and environmental factors at the time.
