Amusement Park Ride Snaps in Half, Injuring More Than 20 People (Video)

A night of fun turned into sheer chaos at a Saudi Arabian amusement park when a massive ride suddenly snapped in half, sending terrified riders crashing to the ground in a horrific scene captured on video.

The disaster happened at Green Mountain Park in Taif, where the popular 360 Big Pendulum ride broke apart mid-swing. According to state media, 23 people were injured—four of them critically—when the spinning wheel, packed with passengers, detached and plummeted toward the earth.

The shocking footage, now circulating on social media, shows the ride swinging and spinning just moments before disaster struck. A loud metallic snap is heard, followed by a sickening crunch as the ride’s central support gave out. Screams erupted as onlookers rushed to back away from the unfolding nightmare.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW:

Witnesses said the collapse appeared to be caused by a failure in the ride’s central pole, which violently recoiled just as the wheel swung at a steep angle. Miraculously, the wheel landed relatively flat, a factor experts believe may have prevented fatalities.

Paramedics with the Saudi Red Crescent Authority rushed to the scene and described the aftermath as “chaotic.” The injured were stabilized and transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

In response, local authorities shut the park down indefinitely. Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud Bin Abdulaziz, governor of the Taif region, has ordered a full investigation into the incident—including inspections of other rides for potential safety hazards.

The terrifying collapse is just the latest in a string of theme park accidents to make headlines this summer. Just weeks ago, a 9-year-old girl drowned in a wave pool at Hersheypark’s water park in Pennsylvania, prompting renewed calls for stricter amusement park safety standards.

For the families caught in the Green Mountain Park disaster, the trauma will no doubt linger far beyond the flashing lights and sirens. What was supposed to be an exciting night out ended with panic, injuries, and serious questions about how something this catastrophic could happen in the first place.