At least 30 people have been left injured after a fire erupted on a ferris wheel at a music festival in Germany.
Pictures showed parts of the ride in flames and smoke billowing into the air at Highfield Festival in Stormthaler Lake, near Leipzig, on Saturday evening.
Two gondolas on the ferris wheel caught fire, the festival said, but the cause of the blaze is not yet known.
“Those affected are receiving treatment and are doing well considering the circumstances,” a statement from the festival said.
It added: “We are in close coordination with the fire brigade, the police and the rescue and medical services.
“We will cordon off the ferris wheel accordingly and then continue operations as planned.”
Musician Ski Aggu, who was performing when the fire broke out, took to his Instagram to express his “dismay and shock” following the incident.
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.”
The two affected gondolas were completely burned out. A fire brigade spokesperson said the situation is now under control.
Source Agencies
