China space simulator crashes

A space shuttle simulator ride has plunged to the ground, killing at least six people and injuring several more at a popular south China amusement park.

Local media reports that five of those injured are still in a serious condition. Survivors said there was a power cut and they heard a loud explosion moments before the drop.

"All the cabins but the one we were sitting in were destroyed. Some people fell onto the rail and some fell on the ground. Some people died instantly and were just hanging dead in their seats," said Mr Lam who witnessed the accident from a nearby carriage.

Mr Suen, who also saw the accident happen said: "There were some safety devices but they were jammed after the car failure and after that the people could not get out. Some of the thinner people could crawl out," he said.

The company is investigating the cause of the accident, said Zheng Hongxia, Vice General Manager of the OCT East Complex.

"All of the facilities are under daily, weekly and monthly maintenance. On this point, the details of the daily maintenance data and information have been held by the safety department and other related departments after the accident," Zheng said.

The cause of the accident is under investigation, and part of the amusement park in the coastal city of Shenzhen has been shut down for safety checks.

In 2006, one person was killed and another seriously injured by a ferris wheel accident in the southwestern province of Guizhou.