Ferris Wheel Catches Fire at Highfield Music Festival, Leaving at Least 18 People Injured

At least 18 people were sent to the hospital during the Highfield Festival in Leipzig, Germany, after two Ferris wheel gondolas caught fire. The festival was taking place at Lake Strömthal in eastern Germany. According to a police report from the scene, the fire started in one gondola before spreading to another.

In a statement to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa, or German Press Agency), the operator of the Ferris wheel claimed no one was in the gondolas when the fire started, per a report from The Guardian. The police report states that 18 people needed medical attention and were transported to the hospital for further care. Of those 18, four people had burn injuries and one had injuries from a fall. Additionally, the report states that both festival-goers and first responders came into contact with smoke.

None of the injured festival-goers were in critical or life-threatening condition. Saxony police (the German state where the city of Leipzig is located) posted an update on Twitter, stating a possible cause of the fire.

“After the fire, investigators were deployed and an initial assessment was made. By means unknown, material underneath the Ferris wheel caught fire. As a result, the fire spread to a gondola. The investigation is still ongoing,” the organization wrote.

Ferris Wheel at German Festival Catches Fire, At Least 18 People Injured

While there are conflicting reports through Western news over how many people were injured during the festival, the official police report states that at least 18 people were sent to the hospital.

During the incident, German rapper Ski Aggu was on stage, per a report from Billboard. Later, he posted on Instagram to share his shock. On his Instagram stories, written in German, he shared that he was told through his earpiece to continue his set. This was allegedly in an effort to avoid panic at the festival. He highlighted the story on his account to share the note with fans.

According to the police report, there is a criminal investigation in progress, but those who wish to keep up with the incident should keep an eye on the Saxony Police Twitter page for updates.

Featured Image by Hendrik Schmidt/EPA/Shutterstock