In a heartbreaking incident at a festive market, a 63-year-old woman lost her life when a towering Christmas tree fell on top of her.
Per the Daily Mail, the tree was upended by strong winds, crushing the unnamed woman beneath its weight.
The tragic accident occurred as the woman was cycling through the market in Oudenaarde, Belgium. Two other women sustained minor injuries in the incident.
Surveillance footage from the city captured the chilling moment as the 66-foot-tall tree (20 meters) began to lean precariously before crashing to the ground, landing directly on top of the victim. The incident led to the immediate cancellation of the Christmas market.
Prosecutors in the town, situated to the east of Brussels, have launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on whether the tree had been properly secured and the impact of the adverse weather conditions.
Strong gusts of wind and heavy rain - attributed to Storm Pia - have been reported as factors contributing to the tree's collapse.
Mayor Marnic De Meulemeester expressed the role played by the severe weather, stating (translated): "Gusts of wind and the heavy rain made sure that the tree collapsed."
Eyewitness Frederic Verkursh recounted the harrowing scene, describing the immediate response by those present to aid the victims.
Speaking to Protothema, the witness recalled: "A nurse who was present coordinated us until the paramedics arrived. Some lifted the top of the tree, and some others went under to pull out the trapped. One woman was injured in the leg, one in the arm, and the third was in a very serious condition."
Troubles with the installation of the tree had previously prompted local authorities to reinforce its stability last month. Storm Pia had already disrupted traffic in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands before reaching western Belgium, leading the weather service to issue a yellow code warning for coastal areas.
As the investigation unfolds, questions linger about the safety precautions taken to secure such towering trees in public spaces during inclement weather.
Our thoughts go out to everybody impacted by this tragedy.