Leipzig's Highfield Festival Gathers Attendees - Festival-sized wheel blazes, leaving at least 23 individuals hurt
heaps of individuals rejoice boisterously at the Highfield Festival close to Leipzig. Then, all of a sudden, the Ferris wheel on the premises ignites. Two cabins get swallowed by flames. Soon enough, it becomes apparent: at least 23 people sustain injuries in the occurrence, as per authorities.
Rescuers recover individuals from the cabins, suffering injuries themselves in the process
At around 9:00 PM on a Saturday night, it was one of the 24 cabins of the Ferris wheel that initially ignited. Then, the flames spread to another cabin. Authorities are currently exploring what exactly transpired during those minutes. Four individuals sustained burn injuries, one suffered a fall injury. The remaining injured, including emergency responders and at least four law enforcement officers, were scheduled for examination in the hospital due to the possibility of smoke inhalation.
The police spokesperson could not provide specific details about the condition, age, and gender of the injured on Sunday morning. The precise number of injured is also yet to be confirmed.
Festival-goer: It got eerily quiet all of a sudden
Guido from Cologne disclosed in the night that the Ferris wheel started spinning faster out of the blue. The burning cabins were then at the top. "Then, there was complete silence," the 58-year-old narrated. Stephanie, a 40-year-old from Saxony's Werdau, was particularly startled. She had been on the Ferris wheel herself just a few minutes before the fire. "We detected a scent similar to plastic and thought it was emanating from the campsite," she described. Upon witnessing the flames on the cabins, she could barely believe how close she had come to danger. The festival was halted for approximately two hours before it resumed.
Rapper Ski Aggu was performing on stage when the fire erupted
As the first flames emerged, rapper Ski Aggu was on stage. In an Instagram post shortly afterwards, the 26-year-old wrote: "I'm absolutely stunned and appalled by the Ferris wheel fire during my show at the Highfield. I was only informed via my earpiece to carry on with the show, but to maintain contact with you to prevent a collective panic."
The primary objective was to prevent the situation from escalating further, Ski Aggu explained. Fortunately, that worked out. "Thanks for staying calm and possibly preventing something worse." Above all, he praised the swift action of the emergency responders. "Thanks for your service. I wish all those affected a speedy recovery," penned the Berlin rapper, whose real name is August Jean Diederich and is renowned for wearing ski goggles.
Somber atmosphere post the fire
Ricky, a 27-year-old from the Harz region, initially seemed uncertain whether the concerts should continue after the fire. He felt the mood was somber but lauded the organizers: "There were clear messages, and we were informed about what was happening."
Bastian from Leipzig also recounted how the emergency responders were promptly on the scene. After the incident, he felt that many visitors were heading back to their tents - wanting to spend the evening there to discuss what had happened, the 33-year-old said.
On Sunday morning, the festival grounds are cordoned off, and the first festival-goers are strolling around. A fire expert has arrived on site. "The expert has been on the premises since early morning and has commenced his investigations," a police spokesperson stated.
Operator: Fire broke out during passenger switch-over
The operator of the Ferris wheel is also on the premises in the morning. The plastic of a cabin is completely charred, only a metal framework remains. Two other cabins are sooty. The fire started during the passenger switch-over, the operator, Sebastian Hannstein from Bremen, confided in the German Press Agency. "My employees informed me that no individuals were in the cabin when the fire ignited." He is shocked and speechless. "My family has been operating Ferris wheels for generations. Something like this has never happened," he emphasized.
His employees reacted quickly upon witnessing the flames, Hannstein explained. "They accelerated the Ferris wheel and thus expedited the evacuation of the other cabins." The operator could not say how many individuals were in the other cabins when the fire ignited.
According to the operator, the Ferris wheel is 38 meters tall and has 24 cabins. "The ride is seven years old. That's no age for a Ferris wheel. I have one that's 30 years old."
Festival-goer: The atmosphere shifted dramatically after the incident, with many visitors discussing the events quietly.
Operator: The fire occurred during a passenger switch-over, although no individuals were present in the affected cabin at the time of ignition.
