One person was killed and seven injured when a roller coaster derailed in Sweden on Sunday, police and the amusement park in Stockholm said.
A carriage from the Jetline roller coaster broke away and fell from a high height, according to a correspondent for the Swedish television station SVT at the Gröna Lund amusement park.
The ride, which was launched in 1988, reaches a speed of around 90 km/h.
“Unfortunately, one person has passed away,” Cecilia Bjorling, spokeswoman for the amusement park, told AFP.
The police in Stockholm confirmed that seven people were injured and were taken to a hospital. “The persons were injured when they fell,” said Helena Bostrom, spokeswoman for the police.
Hakan Eriksson, spokesman for the city’s emergency services, told AFP they were called at around 11:40.
The park was evacuated and the police and ambulances were called to the scene.
“I heard a loud metallic sound and then the ride started shaking,” correspondent Jenny Lagerstedt told SVT. “My husband, who was sitting some distance away, saw the cart come loose and fall.”
“I recently visited the park with my family. I can’t even imagine how it must feel when the most beautiful day turns into a nightmare,” Culture Minister Parisa Liljestrand told the TT news agency.
The amusement park has meanwhile confirmed on social media that it has been closed for at least a week.
“This is a very sad day for Gröna Lund and we think of those affected by this and their families.”
There were 14 persons on board when the accident happened.
“Such an accident should never happen,” added the amusement park. “We will do everything in our power to determine what happened and how it could have happened.”
