23 injured as amusement park ride snaps mid-air in Saudi Arabia

By Sumesh Rajan | August 1, 2025

Taif, SAUDI ARABIA: A terrifying accident at an amusement park in Saudi Arabia's mountain city of Taif left 23 people injured on Wednesday July 30 evening after a mechanical failure caused a major ride to collapse mid-air.

The incident occurred at Green Mountain Park, a popular tourist attraction in the Al Hada region, when a pendulum-style ride known as "360 Degrees" snapped while in full operation. The large, swinging ride, which carries passengers on a rotating circular gondola, suffered a catastrophic structural failure, causing the central pole to split in two and sending the gondola crashing to the ground.

According to multiple eyewitness accounts, a loud cracking sound was heard moments before the collapse. Videos circulating on social media captured the horrifying moment as the ride, filled with young men and women, suddenly broke apart mid-swing. Screams of excitement turned to panic as an object was seen flying into the air and the ride plummeted, throwing several riders from their seats.

The collapsing structure also struck bystanders standing on the opposite side of the ride, increasing the number of injured. Emergency response teams, including police, civil defense, and medical personnel, rushed to the scene within minutes. While some victims received first aid at the park, most were transported to nearby hospitals.

Authorities confirmed that 23 people were injured, with at least three in critical condition. Thankfully, no fatalities were reported.

In the wake of the incident, Prince Saud bin Nahar, Governor of Taif, ordered the immediate shutdown of the amusement park. A formal investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the mechanical failure and whether safety standards were breached. The affected area remains cordoned off as authorities continue their probe.

The incident has drawn widespread attention and renewed concerns about amusement park safety standards, both in Saudi Arabia and globally.

The Saudi tragedy comes just a day after a separate frightening incident in Brazil, where a woman was seen dangling 100 feet above the ground from a Ferris wheel at a local carnival in Mandirituba. In chilling footage, the woman is heard screaming, “Help, I’m going to die,” as she clung desperately to the metal frame of the cabin. Remarkably, she was safely brought down after the ride completed one full rotation and declined medical assistance.

Earlier, a similar case was reported involving a 13-year-old girl left hanging 60 feet in the air after falling from a Ferris wheel pod. Onlookers watched in horror as she clung to the structure, narrowly escaping a fatal fall.

These back-to-back incidents have raised global concerns over the safety protocols of amusement rides and the need for stricter oversight and maintenance standards