Four die after ride malfunctions at Australian theme park

QUEENSLAND, Australia, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- A theme park in Australia is closed after four people were killed when a ride malfunctioned.

Two men and two women lost their lives Tuesday at Dreamworld when a tube on the Thunder River Rapids flipped on the conveyor belt that carries guests through the ride.

The ride, the only river rapids ride in Australia, carries riders down a water track at up to 28 miles per hour through "turbulent rapids" in a large six-seat tube. At parts of the ride, it is moved on a conveyor belt system.

Riders had reported a tube flipped, throwing two people off the raft and trapping two others underneath it, when police and paramedics arrived at the park around 2:20 p.m.

The park was cleared as emergency personnel rushed to get to visitors on the ride after the tube flipped, and the park will remain closed while the accident is investigated by safety officials.

"Theme parks are a place for family fun and happiness, not tragedy," said Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. "This is a very, very, sad, tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives. This is a very sad day, and we trust there will be a thorough investigation into the causes of this accident over the days to follow."