(Ebru News/Agency) More than 170 people were trapped on the world's tallest observation wheel after fire damaged the wheel's control room.
The 541-foot wheel, known as the Singapore Flyer, malfunctioned for the third time since it began operating in February.
Rescue workers scrambled to get passengers to the ground but according to the latest report, only five people had made it to safety so far.
The passengers - who reported that the air conditioning was temporarily cut off - were trapped for more than six hours.
Steven Yeo, General Manager Singapore Flyer said:
"At 4:50 we experienced an electrical problem on our drive unit number 1, north unit, which caused several electrical supplies to be cut. The defect has actually been isolated, we found it to be the drive unit itself, the rest of the wheel, the rest of the electrical supply is in full functioning order at the moment."
The Singapore Flyer is about 100 feet taller than the London Eye, formerly the world's tallest observation wheel.
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Singapore Flyer Fire Traps Tourists
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Dec
2008
Dec
2008