Singapore: The world's biggest observation wheel began turning again late today after a power disruption that left more than 100 passengers stranded above ground for about six hours.

The Singapore Flyer resumed rotating at about 11:11 pm (1511 GMT) to allow the trapped passengers to get out, AFP reporters saw.

A spokeswoman for the attraction said earlier that about 173 people were aboard the wheel when a short circuit in one of the drive motors occurred at around 5pm.

She said at least five people had been evacuated from a lower level within three hours of the disruption.

Later, AFP reporters saw at least four people escape from one of the wheel's observation capsules by slowly abseiling down ropes.

"We are working on restoring power to the motor," the Flyer spokeswoman said earlier. "We just need to get the motor working to bring them down."

The 42-storey-high wheel is 165 metres tall 30 metres taller than Britain's London Eye, said Great Wheel Corp, which built the attraction.

Source : PTI