Ferris wheel bursts into flames at German music festival, injuring 30
A summer music festival in Germany devolved into horror Saturday when a Ferris wheel full of riders burst into flames, according to a local report.
More than 30 people were injured in the incident, which erupted around 9 p.m. at the Highfield Festival in the eastern city of Leipzig, DW reported.
A wild video shows the burning wheel continuing to turn as thick, black smoke billows into the night sky.
Onlookers screamed as the conductors stopped and reversed the ride so that the blazing car was stationed near the top of the wheel.
The fire was so intense that it glowed white at its center, the footage shows.
Officials said the fire broke out in one passenger car and spread to a neighboring one, DW reported. It was not clear how the fire started.
Four people suffered burn injuries and another was injured from falling from the ride.
Most of the 30 people treated for injuries sustained mild cases of smoke inhalation, though two were seriously hurt, according to Germany’s Red Cross.
Four police officers were among those treated for injuries.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Highfield Festival is an annual four-day event that draws up to 30,000 concertgoers.
German rapper Ski Aggu was on stage when the fire erupted, but was told to continue performing despite the disaster.
“I was just told through my earpiece that I should not end the show under any circumstances,” the rapper said on his Instagram story, adding that this was done to avoid “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.”
In a statement, festival organizers said it would cordon off the Ferris wheel but continue on with the remainder of the weekend party.
