At least one person is dead and five were injured when a tree fell on a wedding party in Whittier, Calif., on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that the tree fell on the party on Saturday afternoon at Penn Park in the Southern California city.
Most of the injuries were described as minor, with one being “moderate,” ABC reported.
Witnesses told KTLA-TV that the party was taking photos when the tree came down. Another said the tree split in half and landed on several people.
Tree fell on ppl at Penn park #penn #whittier #LACoFD @WhittierNews pic.twitter.com/K7DUdiCX57
— 🙂 (@iCbass7) December 18, 2016
ABC reported that officials indicated there were no indications that the trees nearby were vulnerable to falling down. They, however, said a weakness in the eucalyptus tree could be connected to the drought that’s affected California.
FOX8 reported that fire officials sent at least six ambulances to the scene, and fire crews are still at the scene of the incident.
Further details were not immediately available.
#Breaking– Rescuers in #Whittier r working 2 free victims trapped after a large tree fell on a wedding party. @NBCLA live with updates now. pic.twitter.com/iUJrfsQyBS
— Gadi Schwartz (@GadiNBC) December 18, 2016
#PennIC #Whittier large tree fell on wedding party. Many patients injured. Fire dept onscene assessing the situation and treating people
— LACounty Fire PIO (@LACoFDPIO) December 18, 2016
UPDATE: #PennIC CD Richardson onscene assessing the incident. 6 total patients at this time. Sadly 1 patient deceased.
— LACounty Fire PIO (@LACoFDPIO) December 18, 2016