Lightning Strikes Stop Osaka Ferris Wheel... 20 Passengers Trapped at 123 Meters for 9 Hours

[Financial News] In Osaka, Japan, a major Ferris wheel was struck by lightning and stopped, leaving dozens of passengers stranded for up to nine hours.
According to Kyodo News on the 28th, the incident occurred at 5:47 p.m. on the 25th at the Redhorse Osaka Wheel in LaLaport EXPOCITY, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture. The ride came to a sudden halt due to a power outage caused by a lightning strike.
As a result, 20 passengers were trapped in the gondolas for up to nine hours before being rescued by firefighters.
Initially, staff manually operated the Ferris wheel to gradually evacuate the passengers, but the process was slow. Firefighters and paramedics dispatched to the scene used ladder trucks to carry out the rescue operation. The last passenger was freed at 2:41 a.m., nearly nine hours after the ride stopped. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The cause of the incident is believed to be a malfunction in the Ferris wheel’s main power supply system due to the lightning strike, which triggered an emergency shutdown.
The Ferris wheel remained out of operation the following day as well. It is still unclear when service will resume.
The Redhorse Osaka Wheel, located in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, is the tallest Ferris wheel in Japan at 123 meters. It is a popular attraction among Koreans, offering panoramic views of Osaka.
gaa1003@fnnews.com Ahn Ga-eul Reporter