There has been a bizarre string of accidents involving escalators in China recently. According to China Network, between 10 and 28 July alone, there have been eight isolated incidents involving faulty escalators – resulting in six deaths and 14 people injured.

This time an elevator in Xingwen County, Sichuan, has made the news after going out of control and firing up the shaft with such speed that it smashed through the ceiling of the top floor and then dropped back down to the ground.

Luckily no one was on the elevator at the time it went wild. However, there have been previous claims of it acting erratically since its installation in October last year. On 24 July, a man reported that the elevator had trapped him inside after starting to shake and dropping suddenly. Then, on 30 July, one week after repairs had been made to the elevator, this incident occurred.

Upon reading the news, Japanese commenters were amazed that an elevator could even do something like that.

“That country continues to surpass my imagination.”
“What would cause it to do that?”
“It’s like that scene in Mission: Impossible.”
“It’s a real [DisneySea attraction] Tower of Terror.”
“Don’t elevators have a pulley at the top? How can it go through the roof?”

Comments coming out of China were equally dismayed.

“What is happening in our country?”
“No choice but to use the stairs now…”

In an exasperated attempt to keep their sense of humor, many others likened the elevator to a rocket, given the way it penetrated the roof. But it serves as a chilling reminder that until the proper steps are taken to ensure their safety, these machines are probably best left avoided wherever possible – besides, the stairs are a great cardio workout!

Source: Jiehuoba (Chinese), Tokyo Sports via Itai News (Japanese)
Image: Jiehuoba