A chilling video of a fairground attraction collapsing with numerous people has gone viral. The incident happened on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia, where a group of amusement park visitors were enjoying the “360 Degrees” ride until it snapped in two and the carousel collapsed to the ground.
The malfunction led to at least 23 people sustaining injuries. The footage clearly shows the central pole breaking in two halves mid-ride, turning the joyful screams of the riders into terrifying shrieks. The carousel was several meters from the ground when it came plunging. While it is unclear how many people were on the ride, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV channel confirmed that almost two dozen people were injured, including four riders who were left in critical condition.
The viral clip shows the ride swinging back and forth before a loud cracking noise signals the collapse. In seconds, the central pole splits, throwing the entire ride structure into a horrifying freefall. The attraction crashes down with a thud, causing witnesses to scream in panic.
Eyewitnesses at the park, located in Taif in southwest Saudi Arabia, recalled seeing the metal recoil violently after the pole split. The sudden flip reportedly struck some riders on the opposite side of the structure, adding to the number of injuries.
The injured individuals were rushed to the hospital for treatment. In response, local authorities immediately shut down the amusement park and are conducting a probe to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to reports, this incident comes amid Saudi Arabia’s ongoing push to boost entertainment offerings across the country. As part of its efforts to reduce dependence on oil, Saudi Arabia is developing major projects like Qiddiya, an “entertainment city” featuring theme parks and racetracks, to boost its entertainment and tourism sectors.
Earlier this year in Hyderabad, a separate amusement ride malfunction made headlines when visitors at the Numaish exhibition were left hanging upside down for nearly thirty minutes. The issue occurred during a trial run and was later linked to a battery-related technical fault, which caused the ride to come to an unexpected halt mid-operation.
