At the Highfield Festival in eastern Germany on Saturday night, a fire broke out on a Ferris wheel, leaving more than 20 people injured. The blaze began shortly after 9 p.m. local time near Leipzig, though the cause is still under investigation. Thick smoke engulfed the area as the fire started in one gondola and quickly spread to another, sending festival-goers into a panic. Authorities are continuing to search for answers regarding the incident.
A festival-goer from Cologne described how the Ferris wheel unexpectedly sped up while the burning gondolas were at the top. The annual four-day festival, which draws up to 30,000 attendees, was interrupted by the incident. Four people sustained burn injuries, while another person was treated for injuries related to falling, according to Saxony police.
Ferris Wheel Fire Injures 20 at Highfield Festival in Germany with Cause Under Investigation
In addition to those directly injured, 18 people, including festival attendees, first responders, and police officers, were exposed to the smoke and required hospital treatment. A criminal investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
Despite the incident, the festival resumed performances shortly after 10 p.m., with German rapper Ski Aggu taking the stage. The quick resumption of the event occurred even as authorities continued their investigations into the dangerous fire.
