INTERNATIONAL: Four children were killed and several more badly injured in Australia after strong winds lifted an inflated jumping castle into the air during end-of-year school celebrations, causing them to fall 33 feet, authorities have announced on Thursday, prompting an outpouring of grief.

Two boys and two girls in their final year of primary school in Hillcrest have died from the accident in Devonport, in the northwest of Tasmania state, about 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Five more children were in hospital including four in a critical condition, authorities reported.

There was no immediate explanation for how the jumping castle became airborne, and no other details were released of the children's identities except that the incident took place at Hillcrest Primary School. Students in the last year of primary school, Year 6, are typically aged 10 or 11.

The accident would rank among Australia's deadliest involving an amusement ride, and brought on a wave of disbelief and mourning. Police have said after an initial investigation the accident would be referred to a coroner for an inquest.

^{PHOTO: ACCIDENT SITE, POLICE COMBING AREA, PLASTIC FORM JUMPING CASTLE IN TREE, SOUNDBITES WITH POLICE COMMANDER AND AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER}