A Ferris wheel at the Highfield Festival near Leipzig, Germany, caught fire on Saturday evening, resulting in multiple injuries, including two serious ones. Two cars of the ride burst into flames, causing panic among festival-goers.
A Ferris wheel at the Highfield Festival near Leipzig, Germany, caught fire on Saturday evening, leading to multiple injuries. According to reports, more than two dozen people sustained injuries, with two being seriously hurt.
The European country's taxpayer-funded broadcaster, DW, cited police and the German Red Cross in reporting the incident. Most of the injuries involved mild smoke inhalation, with four police officers among the injured.
Ferris Wheel Fire at Highfield Festival: Multiple Injuries, Two Serious
France's AFP news agency reported that four people suffered burns, and one person was hurt in a fall.
In a statement released by the Highfield music festival, the festival organizers expressed their concern for the affected individuals and stated that they were closely coordinating with emergency services.
Ferris Wheel Fire at Highfield Festival: Multiple Injuries, Two Serious
Photos and videos circulated online displayed flames and smoke billowing from two cars of the Ferris wheel.
Investigators are currently examining the cause of the fire.
Ferris Wheel Fire at Highfield Festival: Multiple Injuries, Two Serious
German rapper Ski Aggu, who was performing at the time of the incident, expressed his shock and dismay on his Instagram story. He extended his well wishes to the affected individuals.
"For me, the priority was that the situation did not escalate further, which fortunately also worked," Aggu said in German. "Thank you for staying so calm and possibly preventing worse."
Ferris Wheel Fire at Highfield Festival: Multiple Injuries, Two Serious
Around 18 of the victims were transported to a nearby hospital, as reported by Sky News. The festival resumed performances about an hour after the fire broke out, with the Ferris wheel remaining closed.
* The Highfield Festival is a three-day music festival held annually in Germany.
* The Ferris wheel is a popular attraction at the festival, offering panoramic views of the festival grounds.
* The fire caused panic among festival-goers, who were quickly evacuated from the area.
* Emergency services responded promptly and extinguished the fire.
* The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
* The festival organizers have expressed their commitment to ensuring the safety of attendees and are cooperating with authorities.
