Saudi Park Closed After 360 Big Pendulum Ride Crashes to Ground, 23 injured

A serious mechanical failure occurred last week at Green Mountain Park in Taif, Saudi Arabia, when the 360 Big Pendulum ride suddenly snapped during operation. The collapse happened while the ride was in motion, sending the passenger platform hurtling to the ground. Twenty-three individuals were injured, including four critically. The Saudi Red Crescent Authority provided immediate medical response on-site before transferring patients to nearby hospitals for further care.

Eyewitness video footage revealed that the pendulum arm broke while riders were mid-swing, causing the platform to detach at an angle exceeding 90 degrees. Witnesses noted that some injuries occurred due to the sudden recoil of the central support. Remarkably, the platform landed flat, potentially minimizing the severity of casualties.

Following the incident, the governor of Taif, Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, ordered the immediate shutdown of the park and a full safety investigation. Authorities aim to assess both the root cause of the failure and the condition of other rides. No fatalities have been reported, but the event has raised concerns regarding inspection protocols for high-capacity amusement rides.

Following a video depicting the mid-air snap of the gigantic ride platform.