Tijuana amusement park shut down

By order of the Tijuana Fire Department, the long-popular amusement park Mundo Divertido was closed following a Tuesday evening, April 5, accident in which a ride collapsed and injured at least 12 people, including seven minors and a pregnant woman.

Tuesday's accident was the second time this year a ride at the park malfunctioned and caused injuries.

On January 9, the park's roller coaster injured eight people when it failed to work correctly and two of its cars slammed into each other, sending their riders tumbling to the ground, according to multiple press accounts.

In the April 5 incident, a ride called “Sillas Voladoras” (flying chairs) collapsed and fell to the ground shortly after 7 p.m.

According to La Jornada de Baja California, the Tuesday accident “caused an intense movement of ambulances in the area….”

El Sol de Tijuana reported in the April 7 edition that fire department officials decided to close the park because they feared other rides at the park may also be in poor repair.

Fire chief Carlos Gopar Uribe told El Sol that authorities were particularly worried about the upcoming Dia del Niño (day of the child), celebrated in Mexico on April 30, which traditionally draws larger-than-usual crowds to Mundo Divertido.

None of the injured were seriously hurt and all have since returned to their homes, the fire chief told the newspaper.

He told El Sol that he suspected that the central base of the Sillas Voladoras ride was worn out because it has been used for such a long time. Investigators are checking all rides that could pose a danger, Gopar Uribe said.

La Jornada reported on April 6 that a teenaged girl was in charge of the park when Tuesday's accident occurred. The youngster was being held in the state's juvenile justice system, the newspaper reported.

(corrected 4/8, 7:30 a.m.)