Eight children and two adults have been injured and are being treated in hospital after a rollercoaster crashed in Motherwell, Police Scotland said.
Eyewitnesses said the Tsunami ride at M&D’s amusement park in Motherwell, near Glasgow, had been full when it derailed.
Police, firefighters and paramedics rushed to the scene as several visitors posted images on social media appearing to show a mangled carriage on a pathway surrounded by dozens of people.
Witness James Millerick, who was queuing for another rollercoaster at the theme park, said he heard “shrieks” from customers.
He said there was talk that someone had come off one of the rides and rushed over.
“When we got there the rollercoaster had come off the track entirely - straight through the gated fence at the side of the rollercoaster and was upside down on the concrete path at the side,” he told Sky News.
“There were maybe seven or eight individuals, mostly of younger age between maybe 10 and 15 years old that were actually trapped inside the rollercoaster lying on the ground. The harnesses were still on as well so there was absolutely no movement.”
He said he thought the rollercoaster had slipped off the tracks as it came around a corner but did not fall from the highest point.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Emergency services are responding to an ongoing incident at M&Ds theme park in Motherwell and further updates will be given in due course.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said six ambulance crews, a specialist operation team and emergency doctors were on the scene.
He said: “I can confirm that we are attending an incident at M&Ds theme park in Motherwell.”
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “My thoughts are with everyone involved in this terrible incident at M&D’s theme park, especially those injured.”
It is not the first time the park has had problems with its rides, including Tsunami.
In July 2011, nine passengers, including children, were stranded for more than eight hours when it came to a halt 60 feet above the ground.
A spokesman at the time said the ride’s lift chain broke causing its safety systems to bring the carriages to a halt.
And in March this year, eight people had to be rescued by firefighters in a cherry picker after the Tornado rollercoaster stopped working around 20ft off the ground.
According to the M&D’s website, the Tsunami rollercoaster can go at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour through corkscrew turns and loops on a 650km track.
Children under 10 are not allowed to use the ride, and under 14s must be accompanied by a paying adult.
A spokeswoman for M&D’s said: “A serious incident occurred at M&D’s today involving the Tsunami rollercoaster. We have all emergency services on site to assist. The theme park is closed until further notice.”
PA