24 people stranded on rollercoaster

A roller coaster carrying 24 people has become stuck near the top of the ride and firefighters are trying to rescue them at a US amusement park.

Prince George’s County fire officials were called to The Joker’s Jinx roller coaster at Six Flags America in Maryland. No injuries have been reported.

HAPPENING NOW: 24 people stuck on Joker’s Jinx, a roller coaster at Six Flags in Maryland. Rescue crews on scene. pic.twitter.com/zfKd3ot4UN

— FOX 29 (@FOX29philly) August 10, 2014

Assistant fire chief Paul Gomez says the riders are sitting upright, and it will probably take a few hours to get them down.

A Six Flags America spokesman said it is not yet clear what caused the ride to stop, but that it has a computerised safety system that “performed as it is designed to”.

Six Flags’ website says the ride goes 60mph per hour and turns upside down four times.