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Screenshot of the video below on the Telegraph webpage
19 Aug 2024

Ferris wheel on fire at German music festival - dozens injured from smoke inhalation

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At least 23 people were injured when two gondolas of a ferris wheel caught fire at a music festival near Leipzig in eastern Germany, the DPA news agency reported on Sunday.

The fire started in one gondola and spread to a second on Saturday night, police said. Four people suffered burns and one suffered injuries from a fall. Others, including first responders and at least four police officers, were to be examined in the hospital for possible smoke inhalation.

The fire broke out at the festival grounds on Saturday at 9:13 p.m. on the ferris wheel. 65 visitors and emergency personnel required medical attention, with 16 people being taken to the hospital. Fortunately, no one was in life-threatening danger, Bild.de reports. 

The incident took place at the Highfield festival at Störmthaler Lake near Leipzig. Police are investigating the cause of the fire, The Guardian reports. 

The police continues to investigate how the incident occurred. A spokesperson stated that there are no indications of deliberate arson. The police currently believe the fire was caused by negligence. 

Additionally, a technical defect in the ride as the cause of the fire can be ruled out based on the current state of the investigation, MDR.de reports. 

The operator of the ferris wheel informed the dpa news agency that there were no passengers in the gondola where the fire initially started. 

The video  below is from The Telegraph: