At least 29 children have been injured after a truck ploughed into a group at an ill-fated festival.
The incident occurred at a cultural event in the Suzak district of Kyrgyzstan today (Thursday, May 2). Local police say the truck, reportedly selling ice cream at the time, was parked on an area of higher ground but slid down into the crowd below, reports Kaktus Media.
Witnesses clim at least 29 children were injured. Of them, 18 were rushed to hospital and seven of those were taken to intensive care, three in serious condition. The remaining 11 received outpatient treatment.
Schoolchildren had been reading passages from the Epic of Manas, an epic Kyrgyz poem, when the incident happened.
Police are now investigating the incident and do not believe the crash was deliberate. A video too graphic to republish showed the truck rolling down the hill and ploughing into the gathered masses.
Commenting on the clip, one person wrote: “This is a nightmare, I’m just in shock.” Meanwhile another chimed in: “I feel sorry for the children.”
A third added: “It’s a nightmare, so sorry for the people who suffered,” while a fourth chimed in: “May God bless the children and let them all get well.”
Suzak is a village in Jalal-Abad Region of western Kyrgyzstan. The Epic of Manas tells the story of Manas and his descendents as they fight a swathe of enemies.
It is divided into three books with the first detailing Manas’ exploits, the second those of his son Semetei, and the third following his grandson Seitek.
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