Australia mourns deaths of five school children from jumping castle accident

People leave flowers and tributes outside Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania, December 17, 2021. Australian police on Friday said investigations were continuing into the deaths of five children after a jumping castle was lifted into the air from strong winds at the school’s end-of-year celebration, including if it was properly tied to the ground. AAP Image/Ethan James via REUTERS

Australian police on Friday said investigations were continuing into the deaths of five children after a jumping castle was lifted into the air from strong winds at a school end-of-year celebration, including if it was properly tied to the ground.

Three boys and one girl aged 12 years, and one girl aged 11, died in the accident which saw children fall 10 metres (33 feet) to the ground at a school in Devonport in the northwest of Tasmania state. Another three children remain in the hospital.

It was one of Australia's deadliest accidents involving an amusement ride.

Flowers and tributes are seen outside Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia December 17, 2021. Australian police on Friday said investigations were continuing into the deaths of five children after a jumping castle was lifted into the air from strong winds at the school’s end-of-year celebration, including if it was properly tied to the ground. AAP Image/Ethan James via REUTERS

"The tragedy which occurred yesterday is beyond comprehension. It is devastating, heartbreaking. It is just simply incomprehensible," Tasmania state Premier Peter Gutwein told reporters on Friday.

Some 40 students were taking part in the celebrations when strong winds reportedly caused the jumping castle and several inflatable zorb balls to lift into the air.

Police said they would probe how high the jumping castle was lifted, whether all the injured children were inside it and the direction of the wind gust.

Flowers and tributes are seen outside Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia December 17, 2021. Australian police on Friday said investigations were continuing into the deaths of five children after a jumping castle was lifted into the air from strong winds at the school's end-of-year celebration, including if it was properly tied to the ground. AAP Image/Ethan James via REUTERS

($1 = 1.3933 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Michael Perry)