Nineteen people were rescued uninjured late Wednesday night after mechanical failure left them stranded on the “Chicago” amusement ride in Izalco, Sonsonate East, according to local municipal authorities and emergency responders. The unexpected structural weakening of the ride halted operation, prompting a multi-agency rescue operation that utilized specialized municipal machinery to evacuate the trapped passengers.
Emergency Rescue Operation in Izalco
The emergency unfolded on the night of Wednesday, August 12, during local festive activities in the district of Izalco. According to reports from the municipal government of Sonsonate East, the mechanical attraction suffered a sudden failure that left users suspended and unable to descend normally. Video footage circulated on social media captured the evening evacuation efforts as crews worked to clear the structure.
Rescue teams from Civil Protection (Protección Civil) and Rescue Squads (Comandos de Salvamento) deployed to the site alongside elements of the Municipal Agent Corps, the Fire Department of El Salvador (Bomberos de El Salvador), and the National Civil Police (Policía Nacional Civil), as detailed by the Sonsonate East municipal government. Roberto Aquino, the mayor of Sonsonate Center, stated on social media that personnel and specialized equipment from his municipality traveled to Izalco to assist with the operation, despite the district falling outside their direct jurisdiction.
To safely lower the trapped individuals, authorities required a crane dispatched by the Sonsonate Center mayor’s office. Mayor Aquino later confirmed that the multi-agency operation successfully concluded and all 19 residents of Izalco were brought to safety without sustaining serious injuries.
Causes of the Mechanical Failure
Following the incident, the operator of the amusement ride provided an explanation to the municipal government of Sonsonate East. According to the municipal administration, the ride’s manager attributed the mishap to an unexpected weakening of the structure, maintaining that required safety checks had been completed prior to operation.
“All records were previously made by Civil Protection, we checked the machines, but an accident happened, the structure has weakened a bit,” the ride operator stated, according to diario.elmundo.sv.
The Sonsonate East local government clarified that the municipality holds no direct responsibility or operational relationship with the management of the amusement rides. Initial media reports from Publimetro indicated that some affected individuals experienced episodes of anxiety and panic due to being suspended during the hours-long ordeal, though emergency services did not require any urgent hospital transfers.
Local authorities emphasized that the primary objective throughout the procedure was safeguarding the physical integrity of the public through a controlled, preventive evacuation while addressing the structural malfunction.