- Festival's colossal wheel engulfs in flames, leaving 16 in medical care.
Masses rejoice extravagantly at the Highfield Fest near Leipzig. Yet, as musician Ski Aggu rocks the stage, unexpectedly, a Ferris wheel located 100 meters away ignites into flames, with blazes soaring feet high from two carriages. Fortunately, a catastrophe is averted as those in the Ferris wheel successfully evacuate in the nick of time. Regrettably, multiple injuries ensue.
Based on law enforcement reports, 16 individuals required hospitalization, including 4 with burn wounds and 1 suffering from a fall. Numerous wounded individuals, including medical professionals and at least 4 police officers, were inspected for potential smoke inhalation. Altogether, 65 individuals sought medical attention. Fortunately, no one sustained severe harm.
Preliminary findings on the cause
The burning question circulating among festival attendees was: How could this happen? Officials have been examining the origins of the fire that erupted in one of the 24 Ferris wheel carriages since the incident on Saturday night around 9:00 PM. Preliminary evidence suggests that a substance beneath the passenger area ignited inexplicably, subsequently spreading to a carriage. Investigations are still ongoing.
Festival-goers: A wave of silence
Guido, a 58-year-old resident of Cologne, recounted later that night that the Ferris wheel suddenly sped up. Sufficiently fast that the burning carriages were at the top. "Then there was silence," he shared.
Stephanie, a 40-year-old from Saxony's Werdau, revealed she had been in the Ferris wheel only minutes prior to the blaze. "We smelled something akin to plastic and mistakenly believed it was emanating from the campsite," she disclosed. Upon spotting the flames on the carriages, she was astonished by how close she had come to peril. Festivities were halted for approximately 2 hours before the show resumed.
Ski Aggu continued rapping amidst the inferno - to prevent panic
When the first flames became visible, musician Ski Aggu was still performing. In a subsequent Instagram post, the 26-year-old noted: "I am utterly distressed and appalled by the Ferris wheel fire during my show at Highfield. I was instructed to maintain the performance, but to engage in dialogue with the audience to prevent a massive outbreak of panic."
The objective was to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, which miraculously succeeded. "Thanks for keeping your cool and possibly thwarting something worse," he penned. He lauded the swift response of emergency services for this. "Thanks to your service! I hope for a swift recovery for all those affected," the Berlin artist, whose real name is August Jean Diederich, wrote.
Dreary ambiance post-fire
Ricky, a festival attendee hailing from the Harz region, initially wondered if the concerts should continue following the fire. The 27-year-old characterized the atmosphere as subdued but commended the organizers. "Clear announcements were made, and we were informed about what was occurring," he asserted.
Bastian, a resident of Leipzig, reported that emergency services arrived promptly following the event. Afterwards, he observed many people returning to their tents to spend the night, conversing about the events, as the 33-year-old mentioned.
Operator: Inferno ignited during passenger exchange
The following day, the site of the fire was cordoned off, as early festival-goers wandered the grounds. A fire expert arrived on scene to investigate the incident's cause. Sebastian Hannstein from Bremen, the Ferris wheel's operator, was also present. Remnants of one gondola's plastic were entirely melted away, leaving behind only a steel structure. Two other carriages were charred.
The inferno sparked during the passenger exchange, Hannstein informed the German Press Agency. "My employees informed me that no one was within the gondola when the fire ignited." He was dismayed. "My clan has operated Ferris wheels for generations. An event like this has never transpired before," he emphasized.
The Ferris wheel was only 7 years old
His employees took swift action when they noticed the flames, Hannstein revealed. "They increased the Ferris wheel's speed, hastening the evacuation of the other carriages." The operator could not determine how many individuals were in the other carriages when the fire began.
According to the operator, the Ferris wheel reached a height of 38 meters and housed 24 carriages. "The vehicle is 7 years old. That's not an old age for a Ferris wheel. I possess one that's 30 years old."
Despite the chaotic situation, festival organizers managed to reassure Festival visitors about their safety measures, ensuring that the event continued with minimal disruptions.
Subsequently, the Ferris wheel operator conducted a thorough investigation, reassuring concerned Festival visitors that similar incidents were unprecedented in their family's history of operating Ferris wheels.
