Terrifying moment 29 children are hurt by runaway ice cream truck that rolls down a slope after driver 'left the handbrake off' during ceremony in Kyrgyzstan

Terrifying footage shows the moment a runaway driverless truck mowed down 29 schoolchildren at a festival in Kyrgyzstan today.

The truck was being used by an ice cream seller when it suddenly started rolling downhill into a crowd of thousands - most facing in the opposite direction.

While some were able to run out of its path, many others were not so lucky, and were hit full on as the truck ploughed through one crowd after another. 

Eighteen children were hospitalised, with seven in intensive care.

The injured children were aged nine to 16.

The shocking incident was captured on video from a number angles, including by a drone hovering above the crowd as some children held up a large Kyrgyzstan flag.

Other children are seen sitting on the grass on the side of the hill.

Many were in costumes for the event - a festival dedicated to Manas Epic, a legendary poem that holds great cultural significance in the mountainous ex-Soviet republic - including traditional dresses and soldier outfits.

Suddenly in the footage, the truck appears in view further up the hill.

The hapless driver and security men raced towards the truck as they realised the vehicle was out of control and heading through the crowd of children.

It begins to roll down towards the large crowd, picking up speed, and accelerates as it crested over a grass verge with a steep slope on the other side.

Estimates suggest the blue Hyundai Porter pickup truck reached 30 miles per hour.

At first it passes through a line of mounted horses whose riders were able to move them out the way in the nick of time.

A group of people slightly further down the hill were not so lucky, however, with the truck crashing through the crowd and even rolling over people.

The screams from the crowd alerted some people ahead of the truck who frantically tried to jump out of the way. Again, however, some were not quick enough.

The vehicle rolled down another steep slope and into yet another group of children, this time mostly sitting on the ground. 

They too were smashed into, with the truck also rolling over at least one more.

More men were seen bravely sprinting towards the vehicle in an attempt to get into the cabin and bring it to a stop. 

It finally came to a halt after bursting through a marquee, footage shows.

An ambulance was seen offering help to the young victims of the runaway truck.

Children were seen lying wounded, scattered over the grass.

'The driver forgot to put the handbrake,' stated one report.

A health ministry spokesman said: 'According to preliminary information, ice cream was sold from the truck.'

Doctors were ordered by government officials 'to provide high-quality medical care, as well as the necessary medicines'.

The country's Minister of Health Alymkadyr Beishenaliev took 'personal control' of overseeing treatment for the victims, it was reported.

Police have launched a preliminary investigation into the incident.