BAKU, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Nineteen tourists, including seven foreigners, were injured when a branch of a nearly 500-year-old tree fell at the Khan's Palace, a world heritage site in the northern Azerbaijani city of Sheki, on Sunday, according to the country's emergency authorities.
"A 50 cm diameter branch of the tree dating back to 1530 suddenly fell on the tourists who were standing under the tree, hurting 19 of them," the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Ministry of Emergencies said in a joint statement.
The Health Ministry said there were two Russian and five Syrian citizens among the injured. "Those hurt were immediately provided with emergency medical aid and hospitalized, with four of them being in critical condition," the health authorities said.
A group of doctors, emergency and law-enforcement officials were airlifted from capital Baku to the site by a helicopter.
Authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.
The historic center of Sheki with the Khan's Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List last Sunday.
