Four People Killed When Theme Park Raft Ride Malfunctions

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Four people were killed when a water rafting ride malfunctioned at a theme park in Australia.

The accident happenedon the Thunder River Rapids at the popular Dreamworld park in Queensland.

"One of the rides have sustained a, some sort of malfunction causing two people to be ejected from a ride and other two were caught inside the ride," said Gavin Fuller with the Queensland Ambulance Service.

Two men and two women, in their 30s and 40s, were killed.

The park was evacuated after the incident and will remain closed until further notice.

Dreamworld said it's "working as quickly as possible" to figure out what happened.

"We are deeply shocked and saddened by this and our hearts and our thoughts go to the families involved," said Dreamworld's CEO Craig Davidson.

Thunder River Rapids is one of the parks more popular rides. Guests board circular rafts and are then whisked down a fast moving, man-made river. It is considered one of the park's tamer rides and is open to children as young as two years old.