23 injured after amusement park ride crashes to ground in Saudi Arabia

Twenty-three people were injured in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, July 31, after an amusement park ride’s supporting pole snapped in half and sent riders crashing to the ground, according to multiple reports. The dramatic moment was caught on video and shared across social media. 

The incident unfolded at Green Mountain Park in Taif, in the Mecca province of southwestern Saudi Arabia.

In the footage shared on social media, riders are seen on the attraction dubbed “the 360 Degrees,” in which people are usually strapped into seats along a rotating platform that sways from side to side. The platform is connected to a pole that is linked to a supporting structure. 

The ride started normally. But as it reached the top of one of its ascents, the pole broke, sending a platform full of riders to fall violently to the ground.

How bad were the injuries?

Of the 23 people injured, three people are listed in critical condition, according to the Khaleej Times. 

Witnesses said riders were injured while falling, despite straps on their seats. They also said a central pole recoiled and struck bystanders standing on the opposite side of the ride. 

First responders rushed to the scene, and a number of people were treated on-site before being taken to hospitals, according to multiple news outlets. Hospitals in Taif reportedly went into a code yellow emergency, which is used for mass casualty emergencies.

Officials have launched an investigation into the crash. So far, however, it’s unclear what caused the pole to snap.