Falling tree kills 12 people at Madeira religious festival

The downed tree was reportedly a 200-year-old oak

The tree came crashing down killing at least 11 people (EPA/HOMEM DE GOUVEIA)

At least 12 people have been killed when they were crushed by a falling tree during a religious festival on the island of Madeira, local media reports.

Portuguese media say the large 200-year-old oak tree came crushing down on a crowd outside a small church during the Nossa Senhora do Monte festival, which attracts thousands of visitors from all around the world to the island every year.

A live stream of the event shows the moment the tree fell down on the crowd of families and children enjoying the festivities.

In the video, people are heard screaming and quickly scatter.

Television footage from the scene showed images of emergency workers and Red Cross workers flooding to the area and helping those injured around a tall tree on the ground.

Regional health chief Pedro Ramos said 10 people were killed when the tree fell down, a child died while being transported to a hospital and a woman died in hospital.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Ramos also said 52 people were suffering from serious injuries as a result of the incident.

Miguel Albuquerque, the head of the regional government of Madeira, declared three days of mourning for the victims.

Firemen and emergency workers secure the site where a large tree fell and injured several people in Largo da Fonte, in the parish of Monte, on the Madeira island (EPA/HOMEM DE GOUVEIA)

The tree came down just after midday local time on the village's Fountain Square, where there is a Catholic shrine. Worshippers were then preparing for the procession of Our Lady of the Mount.

According to newspaper Jornal de Madeira, local authorities had previously been warned about the condition of the tree and were urged to chop it down but only a few branches were reportedly cut.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa travelled to Madeira on Tuesday.

In a message posted on the President's official website, Mr de Sousa expressed his condolences for the victims of the accident.

"I will go to Funchal today to learn more about what happened, and, of course, to bring words of encouragements and comfort to those who have lost loved ones," he said.

Police and emergency services remain at the scene (EPA/HOMEM DE GOUVEIA)

Crowds are drawn to the village of Monte, a suburb of Funchal, the capital city of the Portuguese archipelago, for this major Roman Catholic festival which marks the Assumption, or the entry into heaven of the Virgin Mary.

Nossa Senhora is the patron saint of Madeira.