Two women were injured after they were hit by a falling poplar tree outside the Mihara Performing Arts Center in Mihara, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Sunday.

According to police, the incident occurred at around 8:40 a.m. TBS reported that the 16-meter-tall tree, which was in the car park, broke at its base and fell on the two women. One of the women, 51, suffered a serious head injury and is in a coma in hospital, police said, while the other woman, 57, suffered a fractured rib.

Officials believe an earthquake on March 14 might have contributed to the poplar, which is about 50 years old, toppling over.

© Japan Today