Panic in Germany as ferris wheel fire leaves 23 festival-goers injured | World | News

A fire on a ferris wheel has left at least 23 people injured at a music festival in Germany. Two gondolas of the ride caught fire at the event near Leipzig in eastern Germany, news agency dpa reported on Sunday (August 18).

The fire started in one gondola then spread to a second on Saturday night, according to local police. Video footage posted on social media shows shocked festival-goers looking on as roaring flames and black smoke billow into the sky.

Further footage shows the fire burning into the night as firefighters battled to bring the blaze under control.

Four people suffered burn injuries and one suffered injuries from a fall. Others, including first responders and at least four police officers, were to be examined in hospital for possible smoke inhalation, dpa reported.

The blaze broke out at the Highfield Festival at Stoermthaler Lake near Leipzig. Police are still investigating what caused the fire. Officers were still unable to provide any concrete information about the condition of those injured on Sunday.

Dpa reported that the exact number of casualties has also yet to be determined.

The operator of the Ferris Wheel told dpa no passengers were sitting in the gondola where the fire started.

German rapper Ski Aggu, who was performing when the fire started, said he was dismayed and shocked at what happened.

He said: “I am absolutely dismayed and shocked by the Ferris wheel fire during my show on the Highfield.

“I was only told in my ear that I should not cancel the show under any circumstances but should first remain in dialogue with you so that there is no mass panic.

“For me, the priority was that the situation did not escalate further, which fortunately also worked. Thank you for staying so calm and possibly preventing worse.

“The decisive factor for this was above all the work of the rescue workers, who reacted so quickly and thus prevented the work.”

A statement from the festival, reported by Sky News, said: “Those affected are receiving treatment and are doing well considering the circumstances.”