BEIJING – At least 8 people were injured as a roller coaster collision occurred at Happy Valley Shenzhen on Friday, a popular theme park destination.
According to Shenzhen’s Emergency Management Bureau, the collision between two roller coaster vehicles happened at the theme park at around 6.27 pm on Friday and the injured individuals have been transported to the hospital for treatment.
“Their conditions are stable, and there is no immediate danger to their lives,” said a statement from the bureau.
The University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital has confirmed that it received multiple injured individuals from the roller coaster incident.
After the incident, the theme park announced the closure of the park for two days starting on Saturday, in order to conduct a comprehensive safety inspection. Visitors who have purchased tickets can obtain a full refund through the original ticket channel.
Local media outlets have revealed that the roller coaster involved in the incident, named “Snowy Eagle”, was an extravagant investment costing approximately 200 million (S$37.4 million) yuan.
Happy Valley Shenzhen claims on its website that this roller coaster is one of Asia’s tallest and longest catapult-style roller coasters.
Professor Wei Shuyan at Northeast University School of Humanities and Social Science emphasized the importance of emergency preparedness.
She said: “The roller coaster rear-end incident is an emergency, and amusement park managers should promptly investigate the cause of the incident, identify and rectify safety risks to prevent further incidents. The relevant government administrative departments should also fulfill their responsibilities and ensure effective safety supervision.”
She added: “We need to prioritise safety precautions and ensure proper safety measures in urban entertainment facilities, as they are fundamental and crucial for enhancing public security.” CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
[The Straits Times – original article]
[Picture – Happy Valley Shenzhen website]
