- Massive Ferris wheel ignites during event, resulting in approximately 30 injuries
A massive celebration takes place at the Highfield Festival near Leipzig, with thousands in high spirits. Unfortunately, a Ferris wheel ignites into flames, causing two gondolas to be consumed by the fiery blaze. As per police reports, over 30 individuals sustain injuries primarily due to smoke inhalation. A spokesperson from the German Press Agency was briefed by a police official regarding the situation.
The leader of the German Red Cross team reported that two individuals sustained severe injuries. Initially, the police spokesperson was unable to affirm this claim. Among the injured were four peace officers. No specifics on the victims' age or gender were disclosed.
The initial gondola of the Ferris wheel ignited in flames yesterday evening around 21:00. The blaze then spread to the ensuing gondola, resulting in both being completely destroyed.
Guido, a resident of Cologne who was attending the festival, shared his alarming experience. He recounted that the Ferris wheel suddenly sped up, with the burning gondolas perched at its highest point. The scene was then met with a heavy silence, as described by the 58-year-old.
Rescuers began to carefully lower individuals from the Ferris wheel, according to witnesses. The two affected gondolas were entirely charred, as reported by a dpa reporter on-site. A fire department spokesperson confirmed 30 minutes following the outbreak that the situation was now under control.
The festival at Lake Störmthal, a substantial rock and pop event boasting around 30,000 attendees, was initially halted. Approximately one hour after the fire started, attendees were informed via the stage that everyone was unharmed. The festival was scheduled to resume at 22:30 with a performance by Cro, and it indeed did so around midnight.
The atmosphere following the fire was subdued. Ricky, a visitor from the Harz region, expressed uncertainty about whether the concerts should continue. The 27-year-old later commended the organizers for their clear communication. "We were kept informed about what had occurred," he said.
Bastian from Leipzig also highlighted the swift response of the emergency services. He noted that many visitors had decided to head to their tents for the evening, engaging in discussions about the incident. The 33-year-old was particularly moved.
Stephanie from Saxony's Werdau was shaken to the core. She had only just departed from the Ferris wheel a few minutes before the blaze began. "We noticed an odor reminiscent of plastic and presumed it came from the campsite," she shared. The sight of the blazing gondolas left her in disbelief.
The initial silence after the Ferris wheel incident was deafening, a silence of death as people processed the situation. Despite the incident, the organizers managed to assure everyone that the festival would resume, creating an unsettling contrast.
