In a horrifying incident that has captured global attention, an amusement park ride in Taif, Saudi Arabia, experienced a catastrophic malfunction, injuring multiple passengers. According to eyewitnesses and news reports, a ride labeled "360 degrees" was swinging at full velocity when "the arm carrying passengers snapped off the frame," sending riders crashing to the ground below. The terrifying plunge left passengers "injured even though they were strapped into their seats," underscoring the severity of the structural failure.
The chaos did not end with the initial impact. Eyewitnesses reported that the central pole of the ride "recoiled quickly, causing additional injuries" and adding to the number of victims. First responders were swift in their actions, providing "first aid at the scene before being transported to a hospital" for further treatment. While the full extent of the injuries is not yet known, the immediate response highlights the gravity of the situation. An official investigation into the incident has been launched, and the ride has been "cordoned off" as authorities work to determine the precise cause of the malfunction, with details of the probe attributed to reporting by The Sun.
This incident in Saudi Arabia is not an isolated event but rather "one of several recent amusement park ride malfunctions globally." The past year has been marred by a series of similar, alarming occurrences that have brought the safety of these attractions into question. In Southern California, the "Knott's Berry Farm's Sol Spin Ride has malfunctioned twice in recent months," while a separate incident in June saw "several cars at the Autopia ride at Disneyland derailed." The dangers were particularly stark in an incident "last October" in Ecuador, where an amusement park ride had "two gondola cars detach and crash, injuring ten people," with six in critical condition. Even popular parks like Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, have experienced issues, with their new "Siren's curse" ride leaving riders "stuck on multiple occasions."
