What happened at Highfield Festival? Dozens reportedly injured after Ferris wheel catches fire

Disaster struck at the Highfield Festival when a Ferris wheel caught on fire. On Saturday night, August 17, the Ferris wheel at the festival that took place on Stormthaler Lake near Leipzig, Germany burst into flames consuming two gondolas by 9 at night. The local fire brigade confirmed that the fire was brought under control.

Scenes of the wheel still spinning around at the Highfield Festival with one carriage engulfed in flames spread through social media. Around 30 people were injured from the incident with 18 of them requiring hospital treatment. The Ferris wheel was closed and on-stage performances continued at the festival after 10 at night. The reason for the fire is yet to be confirmed. No fatalities were reported.

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Ferris wheel fire at Highfield Festival leaves around 30 people injured

As mentioned earlier, a disastrous fire broke out on the Ferris wheel during Leipzig, Germany's Highfield Festival at the Stormthaler Lake at 9 pm on Saturday. According to Daily Mail, the fire broke out as the estimated 30,000 attendees looked on at the giant flaming gondolas of the wheel.

According to eyewitness reports, people were still on the Ferris wheel when the fire broke out. Videos circulating through social media showcased thousands of attendees looking at the wheel as it still spun around with one carriage in flames before eventually coming to a stop. Josephin Sader, a police spokeswoman told the German news outlet BILD that there were 30 injured with 2 receiving serious injuries but most of them were only slightly injured, including four police officers.

Sadar also confirmed that there were no fatalities. According to The Mirror, 18 of the injured required hospital treatment and festival organizers detailed that there were four people injured by the fire and one person injured from a fall. A local fire brigade spokesperson confirmed that the fire was brought under control. According to Daily Star, most of the minor injuries reported were caused by inhaling smoke. A statement from the festival detailed:

"Those affected are receiving treatment and are doing well considering the circumstances."

It further revealed:

"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."

A German rapper who goes by Ski Aggu was performing on stage when the fire broke out. The rapper noticed the black smoke coming from one of the wheel's carriages and at the time commented on it before stopping his performance. The rapper later took to Instagram to express his thoughts on 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."

The rapper added:

"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."

After dozens of firemen contained the flames, the Highfield Festival resumed at around 10 at night with one of the organizers announcing that "The show must go on." The reason for the blaze has not yet been revealed. Investigations into the incident are currently underway.