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Australia's Dreamworld faces uncertain future following theme park tragedy

Xinhua, October 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Australia's Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast will remained closed until investigators determines what caused the Thunder River Rapids water-raft ride to flip and kill four people on Tuesday.

Queensland police said on Wednesday said that a team of 30 investigators were currently investigating the matter to find out what caused the worst theme park disaster in Australian history.

The incident which occurred Tuesday afternoon had claimed the lives of Canberra-based brother and sister Luke Dorsett, Kate Goodchild, Dorsett's partner Roozi Araghi, and as well as Sydney-based mother Cindy Low, who was originally from New Zealand.

Queensland emergency workers said that the two children, a 10-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, who were also on the ride with their mothers had miraculously escaped serious injuries and are currently recuperating in hospital.

The surviving boy is the son of Low, while the surviving girl is the daughter of Goodchild.

Dreamworld chief executive Craig Davidson told a media conference that the company would support the two young children into the future without giving much details.

"In paying our respects today (Wednesday), I also want to specifically acknowledge the event on the two children who were involved in the tragedy," Davidson said.

"These children will have our full support into the future," he said.

Meanwhile, law firm Maurice Blackburn lawyer Alison Barrett told the Australian Associated Press that Dreamworld could potentially be facing 3 million Australian dollars (2.31 million U.S. dollars) in fines over the incident and individuals 600,000 Australian dollars (460,000 U.S. dollars) fines and up to five years jail.

Barrett said the immediate focus would be on the victims' families, but support will also be needed for the many people who witnessed the incident.

For the 2015/16 financial period, Dreamworld had more than 2.4 million visitors, the company report revealed in August. Endit