20-meter tree falls at soccer match in Japan, injuring seven
Seven people were hospitalized after a tree fell onto a sports ground in Gotemba, Japan's Shizuoka Prefecture, during a soccer tournament among elementary school children on Sunday, Qazinform News Agency learned from Kyodo .
Two preschool girls sustained minor injuries, while five women aged between 30 and 40 were hurt, with conditions ranging from minor to serious, but none life-threatening.
Police said they received an emergency call at around 12:05 p.m. reporting that a tree, about 20 meters in height, had fallen and people were injured. The seven appeared to have been parents and children who had come to watch a match, according to the authorities.
Rain fell in Gotemba on Saturday night, but no rainfall was recorded in the city on Sunday. A parent said the soccer tournament wa scheduled to run for two days over the weekend.
Witnesses say they heard a cracking sound during the match before the tree fell to the ground. The scene was temporarily chaotic, with several ambulances arriving and a medical helicopter transporting one of the injured.
The sports ground, where the incident occurred, is part of a resort complex that also has a hotel, hot spring facilities and tennis courts.
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