A number of injuries have been reported after a train derailed at a theme park in a terrifying crash.
Shaken passengers described being suddenly thrown from the steam train around ten minutes into the ride at Silver Dollar City amusement park in Stone County, Missouri on Wednesday evening following an unknown malfunction.
The theme park later confirmed six guests and one employee had been taken by ambulance to "nearby medical facilities". Additional support was also being provided to passengers, they added.
Several train carriages are understood to have tipped onto their side during the derailment, with non-injured passengers escorted from the scene shortly afterwards by shuttle bus.
Footage shared online by witnesses in the aftermath showed a train on its side off the tracks with its wheels showing, as staff and rescue workers surveyed the damage.
A Facebook post written by Kathy Raines Adams, who said she was on the ride, later on Wednesday told of her relief after escaping unharmed.
She said: "We were in the 2nd car from the engine when it derailed. We were able to climb out about a 3 foot section between the train and hill.
"I’m praising God that I was on the outside, we are all ok, and injuries seem to be minimal. Currently we are on a mountainside watching them rescue people."
She also asked her followers to pray for one girl, who was on her "first visit to a theme park" when the incident occurred.
"I’m not sure we will return.", she added.
A statement released by the theme park later in the evening read: "Silver Dollar City confirms that earlier this evening, sections of the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train derailed from the track.
"At this time, we are wholeheartedly focused on providing support for guests and team members in partnership with Stone County first responders.
Investigators from the Division of Fire Safety have attended Silver Dollar City to investigate, reports local media.
