Leipzig's Highfield Festival Event - Sustained Injuries During Ferris Wheel Blaze
Last Saturday evening, around 9 PM on August 17th, a significant blaze broke out at the Highfield Festival, situated near Leipzig, by Störmthal Lake. Multiple sources reveal two gondolas of the Ferris wheel on the premises consumed by the flames.
The Fire's Origin Untraced
The catalyst behind this fire in the amusement attraction remains undisclosed. Initial accounts point to the first signs of flames appearing in a single gondola, which later escalated and engulfed another cabin. Regrettably, the afflicted compartments were reduced to ashes, necessitating the evacuation of the fully occupied Ferris wheel. Those suffering injuries due to smoke inhalation and burns were transported to the hospital for treatment.
Despite this unfortunate incident, the festival carried on, with the headlining act, Cro' (34), relocating their performance to another stage. The two-day music festivities continued on Sunday, August 18th, featuring acts such as Nico Santos, Bosse, Mando Diao, and Macklemore.
Ski Aggu in Shock
Remarkably, the fire erupted during rapper Ski Aggu's (26) set. In the aftermath, the musician communicated his sentiments in an Instagram story, affirming that he was "thoroughly shocked and distressed by the Ferris wheel fire." He was encouraged to maintain his performance and engage with the audience, to avert an impending stampede. "My main objective that evening was to deescalate the situation, which thankfully prevented further escalation," he shared. Expressing gratitude towards his fans and emergency services for their conduct, he concluded by acknowledging their significant contributions.
The Highfield Festival stands as the largest music festival in Central Germany, having graced Störmthal Lake since 2010. Over the course of this year's event, from August 16 to 18, roughly 30,000 visitors were expected to attend, with 54 indie and hip-hop acts set to showcase their talents across three stages.
The exact cause of the fire affecting another gondola after the initial one was ignited remains as the 'Other' unknown aspect that fire investigators are yet to uncover. In the wake of this incident, Ski Aggu (26) expressed his shock and concern, stating that he was focused on deescalating the situation to prevent further chaos, emphasizing the crucial role of attendees and emergency services.
