Sunway Lagoon Roller Coaster Incident Explained, What Happened & What We Know So Far

Over the weekend, social media was abuzz following an incident at a popular theme park in Subang Jaya that left 10 people injured.

According to several videos that have since gone viral, the incident occurred at around 9 PM on Saturday (22 August), when a roller coaster at Sunway Lagoon reportedly came to a halt mid-ride, leaving passengers stranded on the track.

Image Credit: Sunway Group

Subang Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Azlan Wan Mamat confirmed that 10 individuals suffered minor injuries as a result of the incident.

Videos of the incident spread online

Videos showing the stalled roller coaster quickly made rounds on social media, with riders and eyewitnesses sharing footage of the incident on platforms such as Threads.

In some clips, passengers could be seen stranded on the track while emergency personnel worked to bring them down safely. The incident sparked concern among netizens, many of whom expressed relief that no serious injuries or fatalities were reported.

Image Credit: Threads

The roller coaster was carrying 22 passengers when it reportedly stopped mid-ride. Police said the passengers involved comprised both Malaysians and foreign visitors, ranging in age from 11 to 44 years old.

Fortunately, no fatalities or life-threatening injuries were reported.

Sunway Group responds

Sunway Theme Parks says that it is currently working closely and fully cooperating with all relevant authorities as they conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

“The safety and well-being of our guests are our highest priority. Since the incident, our main focus has been on the care, medical needs and well-being of those affected."

“We have provided the necessary medical assistance and support, and remain in close contact with the guests and their families,” the company said in a statement yesterday.

Meanwhile, Sunway Group founder Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah has also issued a statement addressing the incident.

"We deeply regret the incident. We are fortunate that it did not involve any loss of life," he said, as quoted by Harian Metro.

Image Credit: The Edge Malaysia

Cheah said a detailed investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the incident. He added that authorities have ruled out sabotage or any malicious elements.

"In my opinion, the incident may have been caused by damage to the metal structure (metal fatigue)."

He also revealed that the roller coaster had undergone temporary closure for comprehensive inspections and maintenance works about two to three weeks before the incident occurred.

Featured Image Credit: @wnelliesya | Threads, Sunway Lagoon Malaysia