This is the heart-stopping moment a stage with over a hundred children and adults suddenly collapses, leaving one child dead and sending dozens of others plunging underground.
A 13-year-old child was declared dead while 14 others, including five adults, were injured during the accident caught on camera on Saturday.
Footage shows participants gather on stage at the end of a dance audition at the Golden Daffodil performing arts theatre in Zhangzhou, China.
The event’s organiser is heard screaming when the middle section of the stage suddenly gives way and dozens of children fall.
The audience then rushes toward the stage to try and rescue the trapped children.
The fire service spent about 20 minutes helping the children, which included one young girl whose leg was trapped between the stage and the platform rig.
They said two of the 14 injured were in a serious condition.
The identity of the deceased victim has not been disclosed.
Authorities have reportedly detained three employees with the Kunming Queshen Cultural Broadcasting Company, which hosted the event.
While initial findings suggested the theatre stage had been crowded with too many people, a main organiser surnamed Yuan has been quoted as saying the stage was too ‘old’.
I wonder if the stage had a “Made in China” sticker on it. “It high ‘quarity’!”