Tree Branch Falls at Whittier-Area Middle School in Gusty Winds, Injuring 13 Students
At about 2:05 p.m. on Friday, October 16, a large tree branch came down in gusty winds on the campus of Katherine Edwards Middle School in the 6800 block of Norwalk Boulevard, near Whittier in Los Angeles County, injuring multiple students. Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded to the scene.
On the injury count, a fire department spokeswoman told City News Service that 12 people were hurt — 11 with minor injuries and one with moderate injuries. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents the area, posted that 13 children were injured in total, 12 with minor injuries and one moderate, and that all of them had been taken to local hospitals. She thanked county firefighters, sheriff's deputies and school staff who responded. No ages for the students were released.
The incident came as Southern California was experiencing a strong Santa Ana wind event, with red flag fire warnings in effect, powerful gusts and dry air across the region. Fire officials had warned that high winds can bring down tree branches and power lines, and urged residents and schools to watch conditions around campus and street trees. The cause of the failure and the condition of the tree remain to be addressed by the school and county officials. (GSM, based on City News Service and Los Angeles County Fire Department information)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：惠提尔市中心格林利夫大道街景（资料照片）。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，Northwalker 摄，CC0。Photo: Greenleaf Avenue in downtown Whittier (file photo). Source: Wikimedia Commons, by Northwalker, CC0.
