Not only will the fake volcano at Fisherman's Wharf in Macau never erupt again, it will very soon cease to be at all. Macau tycoon David Chow Kam-fai has called time on the doomed duo: the volcano and the Roman amphitheatre, the showpieces of the odd theme park between Sands casino and Macau’s ferry piers.
Seven years ago on New Year ‘s Eve it has its soft opening, briefly, belching choking smoke over the inhabitants, then fell silent after an accident.
Four days later, the SCMP reported that two mainland tourists - a woman and her young son - were injured, casting doubts over the safety of the HK$1.9 billion entertainment project.
A mechanical breakdown had caused two motor vessels to collide on the River of Fire water ride. The 37-year-old woman fell into the water from one of the vessels, breaking a bone in her chest, while her son, who suffered minor injuries.
The six-minute water ride ran inside the 40-metre-high artificial volcano was immediately halted.
These days, it’s hard to find reference to this episode online and apparently staff have long been forbidden to even mention it.
