Nine acrobats of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus have been seriously injured after falling from an aerial platform during a show in Rhode Island.
Eight female acrobats fell from a height of up to 40ft after scaffolding collapsed. One dancer on the ground was hurt.
A circus spokesman said the performers were in the middle of a hair-hanging and motorbike high-wire act.
Officials say they have launched an investigation into the accident.
The accident occurred on Sunday morning during the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus show in Providence.
Reports suggest as many as 20 people may have been injured in the incident, but only nine of them were in serious condition.
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