EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Visitors at American Dream were left in the dark Monday afternoon after a power outage shut down parts of the massive entertainment complex and brought amusement rides to a sudden stop, CBS News reported.

The outage began around 3 p.m., affecting portions of the East Rutherford mall, including areas with amusement attractions. Several riders were temporarily stuck before being safely evacuated, according to officials.

East Rutherford Fire Department personnel assisted with evacuations, and one person reported having difficulty breathing, officials said. No serious injuries were reported.

PSE&G said the outage was caused by "an issue with equipment internal to American Dream's electrical system" and that crews were working with the mall to restore service.

American Dream said in a statement that the disruption was caused by a "localized power outage."

"We are working closely with the utility company to restore service as safely and quickly as possible," the mall said.

Videos shared on social media showed a calm scene inside parts of the complex, with visitors walking through dimly lit areas and guests being asked to leave the water at the mall's attractions. Some visitors gathered as they sought refunds after their plans were interrupted.

For some guests, the outage turned a long-awaited trip into an unexpected disappointment.

"I go to the mall and there's no power. Everything's all blacked out. I'm like, there's no way. I came all the way from Florida and today is the day there is no power," visitor Tony Rodgers shared with CBS.

Another guest said the outage occurred just as they were about to board a ride.

"We were waiting for a ride. We were about to get on when the power went out," the visitor said.

The cause of the equipment issue remains under investigation.