Two children have died and several others have been critically injured after a bouncy castle was blown into the air at an Australian primary school.

Several children fell from a height of about 10m at about 10am (local time) after strong winds lifted the structure at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania, according to the police.

Emergency services, including several helicopters, attended the scene.

Several children have fallen from a height of 10 metres, causing serious injuries, after the wind blew a jumping castle into the air at a primary school in Tasmania's north-west @abcnews pic.twitter.com/tf01vevPab

The injured children have been receiving medical treatment at the scene and in hospital.

State broadcaster ABC News reported that the castle was being used during an end-of-year celebration at the school.

The school was closed for the rest of the day, and parents and carers were asked to urgently collect their children, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

‘Unthinkably heartbreaking’

Winter Olympics 2022: Australia joins US in diplomatic boycott of Beijing Games

Australian parliament: 1 in 3 experience sexual harassment, report finds

Australian council to ban cats outside unless they are on a lead

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was a “freak accident that will leave families completely devastated”, describing the events as “just shattering” and “unthinkably heartbreaking”.

“Young children on a fun day out together with their families and it turns to such a horrific tragedy at this time of year, it just breaks your heart,” he said.

“I just want to say, on behalf of Jen [his wife] and I to the parents, the family and the friends and all who were there, to the other young children who were there and witnessing these events: I just pray that you’ll have great family around you and great friends and that you’ll be able to come through this.”

He said he has been in contact with the Tasmanian government to “provide whatever support is necessary”.

He said he will be speaking to the state’s premier later in the day and will take further advice from him.

Police said no further details about the deaths or injuries could be released at this stage for privacy reasons.

Officers have been seen crying and embracing at the scene and many parents arrived at the school not knowing if their child had been affected, according to ABC News.

Commander Debbie Williams described the scene as “very confronting and distressing”, the broadcaster reported.

Related posts:

Japan sees earliest cherry blossom since 1400s – and scientists say it’s down to climate change ‘All hypotheses remain on the table’ in search for source of COVID-19, says WHO Brazil’s three military chiefs all quit after Bolsonaro cabinet reshuffle ‘The one who causes fear’ – Scientists discover new dinosaur in Argentina Dried mealworms could be hitting supermarket shelves and restaurants across Europe British woman killed in Pakistan ‘after refusing to marry a man’ India had nearly half of worldwide coronavirus cases last week Two people reported dead in Czech Republic train crash Flooding kills more than 300 in China – including 14 trapped in subway Taliban breaks up women’s rights protests in Kabul with ‘gunshots and teargas’ Paul Pogba posts emotional tweet mourning loss of youth player ‘Lots of people are dying’: Four young sisters among those caught up in Ethiopia’s bloody civil war