9 Acrobats Injured In Rhode Island Circus Performance, Footage Captures Moment Platform Came ‘Crashing Down’ [VIDEO]

A platform collapse during a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show in Providence, Rhode Island, has seriously injured 9 acrobats. The acrobats were suspended on the hanging platform when it suddenly dropped 25 to 40 feet to the ground.

Fifteen to 20 performers total were injured in the collapse that happened around noon on Sunday at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence. A Providence Journal reporter was told to leave on threat of arrest by a security guard after the incident.

Roman Garcia, general manager of the circus tour told reporters that “Everybody’s conscious. Everybody’s doing well. We ask everyone to pray for the girls.”

Eyewitnesses say they saw an injured performer wave to the crowd as first responders wheeled her out on a gurney.

"It just went crashing down," spectator Sydney Bragg, 14, said. "Everyone was freaking out. We heard this huge clatter and then we just heard the girls scream."

See the video below:

The rest of the Sunday's shows and a Monday show are on hold.