‘Magic carpet’ ride mishap: Several people detained over accident at Guangxi tourist spot Detian Waterfall

SINGAPORE: Chinese authorities have detained some people following a fatal accident at a popular tourist spot in China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, as more details emerge about the mishap that left one person dead and 60 others injured.

The accident on Saturday (Aug 10) afternoon involved the malfunctioning of a “magic carpet” ride – used to ferry visitors up a mountain for scenic views of Detian Waterfall.

Detian Waterfall is a large transnational waterfall on the border between China and Vietnam.

Several people involved have been taken into police custody, said local officials in a statement on Tuesday, adding that investigations are ongoing. They did not specify the number of individuals detained or their identities.

The statement also shed more light on the cause of the accident, stating that preliminary investigations show there was a rupture in a “hinge connection” while the ride was in operation.

Resembling a human conveyor belt, the “magic carpet” ride helps travellers ascend the steep mountain more quickly. Riders must remain seated and are enclosed by what appears to be a transparent panel on both sides. 

The statement added that as a result, the conveyor belt suddenly accelerated downwards, causing people to collide with each other and leading to “injury and death”.

One person died. A total of 60 others were hurt – one sustained serious injuries while 59 others had minor injuries.

One witness on the ride said on social media platform Xiaohongshu said that many people suffered fractures and “there was blood everywhere”.

The attraction has been shuttered for maintenance and equipment inspection, while management have expressed their “deepest condolences” on the death and also apologised to the injured and their families

A post by state-owned Xinhua News Agency posted on microblogging platform Weibo had many Chinese netizens praying for “peace” for those injured. 

One Weibo user wrote that safety checks at tourist spots such as Detian Waterfall were extremely important and questioned what the management was doing.

“(Now that this accident has happened), would tourists even want to visit such sites and take rides like these in the future?” the user said.