Fairground horror leaves three people critically injured: Passengers are sent flying when safety bars malfunction on Belgian magic carpet ride

A fairground ride in Belgium has left three people in a critical condition after its safety bars malfunctioned, causing its riders to violently fly out of their seats. 

The spinning ride at the Ducasse fair in the village of La Hestre, a suburb of Manage in southwest Belgium, was seen throwing its seven riders out of their seats and falling several metres as smoke and steam poured out, with onlookers overheard screaming in shock and panic. 

Bruno Pozzoni, the mayor of Manage, said hours after the incident on Sunday evening that all seven people, who were conscious when emergency services treated them at the scene, suffered injuries. 

Belgian news programme RTL Info reported that youngest victim, a 10-year-old girl, is currently in a serious but stable condition in the nearby Saint-Luc Hospital after suffering multiple injuries. 

'She is out of danger. It's polytrauma, she is still being followed, but she is out of danger,' the mayor told the programme. 

Smoke and steam was seen pouring out of the ride moments before seven people were thrown off

An investigation into the incident, which took place in southwest Belgium, is currently underway

The fairground will be allowed to stay open as the investigation into the tragedy unfolds

All seven people on the ride, who were conscious when emergency services treated them at the scene, suffered injuries following the incident

Three people, including a 10-year-old girl, were sent to hospital in a critical condition

'One person remains in a worrying state, it is a young girl hospitalized in Tivoli for whom there is a follow-up. Three of the victims have been operated on and are in the orthopedic service.

'One is released and one person is in psychological distress and is supported by psychologists to try to reduce his trauma,' he added. 

The mayor said that the investigation into the incident is still ongoing, and added that the fairground will be allowed to stay open as the investigation unfolds. 

'The question arose in depth, and we felt, in discussions with several specialists, that people should continue to talk about it, not shut themselves up at home and stay on the event.

'That also allows us to to meet them and direct them to our listening cell since many witnesses were present. A part was taken care of, but in the drama that unfolded, many moved away from the place and today, we tries to recover all these witnesses who have suffered psychological trauma' , Bruno added.

The mayor later said in a Facebook post that some events at the fair, including a fireworks display, had been cancelled out of respect for the victims. 

MailOnline has contacted the fair's organisers for comment. 

The incident comes just weeks after a 72 foot-tall British rollercoaster left eight people dangling for 'at least half an hour'. 

Horrified onlookers watched as emergency serviced scrambled to get to the top of the Rage ride at Adventure Island in Southend, Essex.  

Footage shows one of the cars stuck dangling vertically from the track as the riders faced the sky.