Map of Eastern Equatoria State. (Courtesy).

A young boy aged around 10 years was crushed to death by a falling tree in Torit County in Eastern Equatoria State on Wednesday, local authorities said.

Torit Mayor Mustapha Albino said the boy was killed on spot by the tree when he went to fetch water at the Kineti River.

Mr Albino said the tree had been weakened by storm and heavy rain hours before the incident.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) at 4 o’clock, there was a heavy rain with a thunder and has blown down one of the trees in Kineti River. And that tree has fallen into a child of around ten to 13 years. He died immediately,” he told Eye Radio.

Mayor Albino said the incident of a person killed by falling tree is the first of its kind.  He advised parents to cease sending their children to the river alone.

“We have been telling them from time to time that, please don’t leave the young children to go alone to the river because event the current in that river is very strong.”