A tragic incident occurred at a popular tourist destination in China, resulting in the death of at least one person and injuries to many others. The mishap reportedly happened when an attraction malfunctioned, causing passengers to travel backward.
Reports indicate that 60 tourists were injured during the incident at the Detian Waterfall in Guangxi, Southern China.
Located on the Chinese-Vietnamese border, the Detian Waterfall features an attraction known as the ‘Magic Carpet.’ This ride allows tourists to sit on a conveyor belt that transports them up the hill while they enjoy stunning views.
Unfortunately, on Saturday (10 August), a malfunction caused the ride to move in reverse. This sudden change reportedly resulted in people tumbling down the hill and colliding with each other.
Channel News Asia reported that the site’s management extended their ‘deepest condolences’ to the family and friends of the deceased and those injured.
Local authorities quickly responded to the scene and have initiated an investigation into the cause of the malfunction. They are also providing support to the injured passengers and their families.
A statement detailing the investigation’s findings will be released in due course, according to the outlet.
One eyewitness shared their account of the event with the Global Times.
The witness, who remained anonymous, recounted: “It suddenly stopped and started sliding down. The crowd in front and behind collided due to inertia and piled up together. The safety panels on both sides were also broken at that time.”
Another witness, quoted by Beijing News, described hearing many screams as the incident unfolded.
The tourist attraction announced the closure of the ride on their social media accounts on Saturday evening.
Due to ongoing inspections of the site and its equipment, the ride will stay closed starting Sunday. No reopening date has been provided yet.
Tourists who bought tickets online can obtain refunds through the ticketing platform they used, according to Global Times.
This isn’t the first time the Magic Carpet has experienced issues. Various media outlets reported that the ride malfunctioned previously in January 2023.
At that time, the carpet belt reportedly descended suddenly, forcing tourists to walk up the mountain. Although some people were injured, the incident was not as severe, and all individuals recovered without serious issues.
The ride was repaired within two hours on that occasion, and normal operations resumed soon after.