Disney monorail lightning strike left 120 passengers stranded Sunday evening. According to officials and passengers, firefighters were eventually able to evacuate all passengers out of the ride which was thought to be struck by lightning that knocked the power out. NBC affiliate WESH-TV reported that the Disney monorail lightning strike resulted to the evacuation of passengers in the elevated train at about 6 p.m.
According to the New York Daily News, the train had about 120 passengers onboard when it lost power in an instant as the Disney monorail lightning strike happened. WESH-TV reports that riders were left stranded Sunday after as stormy weather passed over the Orlando resort.
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler told The Associated Press that the passengers were eventually evacuated safely after the halt caused by the Disney monorail lightning strike. The power outage was reportedly most likely caused by bad weather at its central Florida amusement complex.
Wahler added that there have been thunderstorms around Walt Disney World when the elevated train suddenly halted Sunday afternoon. She said, 'There was just some bad weather in the area and because of the power outage, the monorail guests were evacuated.'
Wahler also said that a mechanized lift helped get passengers down from the Disney monorail lightning strike incident which left them stranded at the elevated train. Though the lightning strike hasn't been confirmed as the cause of the halt, she said there were no fires and everybody was able to go down calmly.
NBC News reports that according to Reedy Creek Fire Department Assistant Chief Bo Jones, the rescue crews who responded to the possible Disney monorail lightning strike incident used a movable platform to help the 120 passengers off stricken train. Meanwhile, other passengers sitting in the forward cars used escape hatches to get to the first car, which was near a staircase going down to the ground. Jones added that the evacuation process took around 90 minutes to finish.
Below are some reactions from riders via Twitter during and after the evacuation from the Disney monorail lightning strike incident:
Literally stuck on a monorail at disney, lighting struck and we immediately stopped. I'm convinced that I'm going to die
— natalie (@nnaaatttalliiie) July 13, 2014
We're going to have to evacuate the monorail
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
