WORLD'S LARGEST OBSERVATION WHEEL SHUT DOWN AFTER FIRE

By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Dec 24 (Bernama) - The operation of Singapore Flyer, the world's
largest observation wheel, has been suspended following an electrical fire
Tuesday that led to a power shutdown and left about 170 people stranded in the
passenger capsules for hours.

The company that operates the wheel, Singapore Flyer Pte Ltd, said today the
observation wheel would undergo thorough safety checks before it was reopened to
the public.

Singapore Flyer general manager Steven Yeo said power to the wheel's motor
drive units was cut off after an electrical fire, bringing the wheel to an
abrupt stop at around 5pm Tuesday.

Passengers were left stranded in the capsules of the 165-metre high wheel
for about six hours before they all were finally rescued.

Several of the passengers were lowered from the capsules by rescuers
using rope harnesses and the rest left the wheel after power was finally
restored around midnight.

It was reported that the wheel had stalled three times since it started
operations in February this year.

The S$240-million wheel, with the height of a 42-storey building, is taller
than the famed London Eye by some 30 metres, and has 28 passenger capsules.

-- BERNAMA