Terrifying moment new ride explodes in fireball at waterpark in Sweden as evacuation ordered & smoke engulfs attraction
THIS is the terrifying moment a new water slide explodes in fireball at a Swedish amusement park.
The evacuation has been ordered as the smoke engulfs the attraction.
The footage shows the new ride at the Oceana Waterworld in Gothenburg in flames with the thick, black smoke rising into the sky.
The brutal fire tore through the structure, reducing the waterpark into "nothing but a skeleton", a witness told Expressen.
The firefighters struggle to bring the flames under control as the cause of the explosion remains unknown.
The alarm was raised at 10am local time with reports of fire which was followed by an explosion moments later.
Firefighter Björn van der Kaay told Swedish press: "We know that there are fires in water slides, among other things, but we don't know how it started."
The fire brigade has warned about the risks of the fire spreading to the nearby residences.
People living in close by neighbourhoods were instructed to close the windows to avoid toxic fumes.
The hotel adjacent to the park, together with several apartment and office buildings, has been evacuated.
A police spokesperson August Brandt told Swedish media: "It is important that the public stays away from the site."
There were reports of injuries but no official statement has been released yet.
The witnesses said there was a strong smell of "burnt plastic" in the air.
One resident told Expressen: "First we saw smoke, then fire and then it exploded.
"We have seen how the water slide has been formed over several months. Now it only looks like there is a skeleton left."