8 youths hurt in carnival ride glitch

MANILA, Philippines — Eight persons were injured after one of the carnival rides at the Circle of Fun amusement park in Quezon City malfunctioned on Tuesday, police said yesterday.

The victims – five females and three males – suffered cervical spasms when the Fun Drop Tower Ride they were riding at the Quezon Memorial Circle suddenly dropped at around 6 p.m.

The oldest is Danica Villas, 18, a resident of Barangay Commonwealth, while the rest are minors aged 12 to 17.

Superintendent Christian dela Cruz, Kamuning police station commander, said the victims only sustained minor injuries after the safety brakes and air canisters absorbed much of the impact.

The ride’s operator, Roberto Singian Jr., 27, applied the emergency stop and sought the assistance of standby medics, who brought the victims to the East Avenue Medical Center.

Dela Cruz, in his report, said the victims were discharged from the hospital and given medication.

One of the male victims said in a television interview he smelled a burning electrical wire before the incident.

“I could not breathe when it suddenly went down,” he said.

Dela Cruz said the management of Circle of Fun shouldered the victims’ medical expenses.

Probers are determining if a technical malfunction or human error caused the accident.