4 dead in Australia theme park disaster

Prime minister extends his prayers to the families of the victims

newspaper reported that water was drained from the attraction in an effort to save trapped victims, but to no avail.

Dreamworld, which opened in 1981 and has over 40 rides and attractions, said in a statement that it was “working as quickly as possible to establish the facts around the incident and is working closely with emergency authorities and police to do this”.

“Dreamworld’s focus and priority is with the families of those involved in this tragedy and will be providing an update to the public as soon as information becomes available.”

The park was closed and will remain shut today.

A witness who was about to go on the ride said “everyone was screaming” after a raft apparently flipped.

“We saw [a] little girl and we believe it was her mum because it was just her and her little sister that was an infant,” Lia Capes told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“I was speaking to one of the guys and he said it was the raft or the boat thing in front of him, the whole thing flipped and everyone was screaming.”

Another witness, who did not want to be named, told the Gold Coast Bulletin: “My sister and niece were on the ride, they are so traumatised, there is a woman hanging by her foot, crushed from the ride.”

Australian premier Turnbull said it was a “very sad day” and vowed a thorough investigation into the accident.

“Theme parks are a place for family fun and happiness, not tragedy. This is a very, very, sad, tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives,” he said.