A fire erupted on a 38-meter-high Ferris wheel at the Highfield Festival near Leipzig, Germany, on August 17, 2024, resulting in over 30 injuries. The incident occurred around 21:00 when one of the 24 gondolas caught fire at ground level during a passenger change, quickly spreading to a second gondola.Sebastian Hannstein, the operator of the Ferris wheel, provided new details about the incident. ‘My employees said that no one was in the gondel when the fire broke out,’ Hannstein stated. ‘I am shocked and speechless. This has never happened in my family’s generation of operating Ferris wheels.’ According to police reports, four people suffered burns, one person sustained a fall injury, and the remaining victims, including emergency responders and at least four police officers, were treated for possible smoke inhalation. The German Red Cross noted that two people are in critical condition.The cause of the fire is currently unknown and under investigation. Police spokesperson Josephine Sader stated, ‘The investigation is focusing on the possible presence of accelerants’. A fire expert arrived at the scene early the following morning to begin the investigation.Despite the incident, the Highfield music festival, which attracts around 30,000 visitors and features artists such as Macklemore, The Kooks, and Cro, resumed after a brief pause. Festival organizers announced that the injured were receiving medical attention and stated, ‘We are cooperating with the fire department, police, and medical services to provide assistance to the injured’.German musician Ski Aggu, who was performing at the time of the incident, expressed his dismay and shock on Instagram, saying he prioritized preventing a mass panic.This incident highlights the potential dangers at large public events and the importance of swift emergency response. The investigation’s findings may lead to enhanced safety measures for similar attractions at future festivals.
Key points
- A fire on a Ferris wheel at the Highfield Festival near Leipzig, Germany, injured over 30 people.
- The Ferris wheel operator, Sebastian Hannstein, stated that no one was in the gondola when the fire started.
- The cause of the fire is under investigation, with police focusing on possible accelerants.
- Despite the incident, the festival resumed after a brief pause.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported number of injured people, ranging from 18 to over 30.
👾Some sources report the fire started at ground level, while others suggest it began at the peak of the Ferris wheel.
