Families at the Jimboomba Family Carnival were left scrambling for cover on Sunday night after a fireworks display sent rockets into the crowd.
One attendee wrote on social media that a rocket had exploded about 10 metres from them, while others shot into the grandstands. Despite this, they said the show was not paused.
“Children were crying and people were running for safety,” the witness said.
Another witness said on social media there were “many traumatised children and adults in the community” following the incident.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland launched an investigation into the incident, and the carnival opted to cancel Monday night’s show.
“We are working with authorities to ensure that everyone is safe at the carnival, and the issue with the fireworks is finalised,” the show said in a statement posted online yesterday.
“We are very disappointed in what has happened.“
Pyrotechnics contractor Ace Fireworks told Nine News the incident was a first, and said the company was “terribly sorry”, and that it “should never have happened”.
“The fireworks exploded, obviously, the item was faulty,” Ace Fireworks’ Robert Stevenson said.
The Jimboomba Family Carnival will continue across the week until August 17, but it was unclear whether the show would suspend future fireworks displays. Brisbane Times has contacted them for comment.
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