Enlarge image
Fallen Christmas tree in Washington: A crane lifts the twelve-meter-high tree again
Photo: AP
Icy winds have a firm grip on the U.S. capital Washington – and toppled the National Christmas Tree. Late Tuesday afternoon, the huge tree was lying on its side, some lights were still on, as seen in pictures. A crane towered over the Christmas tree and lifted it up again.
The twelve-metre-high tree is only a few metres away from the White House – on Thursday, US President Joe Biden and his wife Jill actually want to officially light up the traditional tree. In Washington, D.C., wind gusts reached a speed of around 60 kilometers per hour on Tuesday.
The illuminated tree is located in Ellipse Park between the White House and the Washington Monument. President Calvin Coolidge lit a Christmas tree for the first time in 1923. Turning on the lights has been a tradition in the U.S. capital for decades.
wit/dpa