In a shocking incident that left the community reeling, two gondola cars detached from a pendulum ride at a fairground in Ecuador, injuring ten people—six of them critically—over the weekend.
The harrowing event occurred during the festivities in La Aurora, Daule Canton, on Saturday night. Eyewitness footage from JamPress captures the chaos as the gondolas fell, sending onlookers scrambling for safety amid screams of terror.
“People were running in every direction. It was a scene of panic,” one witness recounted, still shaken by the experience. The gondolas crashed to the ground, with passengers still strapped in their seats. Blood spatters were reportedly visible on the wrecked cars afterward, painting a grim picture of the aftermath.
Local fire department chief Moisés Cano confirmed that of the ten injured, six were in critical condition, suffering from severe fractures and head trauma. “This is a serious situation,” Cano stated. “We are doing everything we can to assist the victims.”
Preliminary investigations indicate that a mechanical arm of the ride had come loose, leading to the catastrophic failure. Police spokesman Lt. Col. Ricardo Armas reported, “The mechanical malfunction caused the gondolas to detach from the ride. We are investigating how this could happen.”
In the wake of the incident, the traveling fair has been shut down, with the malfunctioning ride cordoned off for further examination. Risk management official Stalin Quiñónez assured the public that the attraction had met all safety requirements prior to the collapse. “It was deemed fully operational and safe,” Quiñónez explained. “Unfortunately, this mishap occurred. We do not know the cause yet.”
The investigation into this distressing event is ongoing, with officials working diligently to uncover the truth. Fair organizers have promised to cover the medical expenses for all injured parties, a small comfort in the wake of such a tragic occurrence.
As the community grapples with the fallout, one thing remains clear: safety must always come first at public events.