LEIPZIG, Germany. A Ferris wheel at the Highfield Festival near Leipzig burst into flames on Saturday evening, leaving more than 20 people injured in a shocking incident that has stunned festival-goers.
The fire, which broke out shortly after 9 p.m. local time, engulfed two carriages of the ride, sending thick smoke billowing into the night sky. Disturbing images from the scene show the Ferris wheel ablaze as emergency responders rushed to the area.
According to a statement from the Saxony police, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Four individuals suffered burn injuries, while another was injured from falling during the chaotic moments that followed. An additional 18 people, including first responders, police officers, and those on the ride, were exposed to smoke inhalation and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
“The ride caught fire unexpectedly, and the situation escalated quickly,” a police spokesperson said. “We are working to determine the exact cause of this incident.”
The scene of the fire has been cordoned off as authorities continue their investigation.
German rapper Ski Aggu was performing on stage at the festival when the Ferris wheel caught fire. In an Instagram story, he expressed his shock over the incident, writing, “I am dismayed and shocked by what happened tonight.”
Ski Aggu also revealed that he was instructed not to cancel his performance to prevent mass panic among the festival crowd. “I was told in my ear to ‘not cancel the show under any circumstances’ but to keep communicating with the audience to avoid any panic,” he added.
The Highfield Festival, one of Germany’s most popular music events, has now been marred by this tragic incident, with attendees and organizers alike reeling from the unexpected disaster.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
