Passengers on a ride at the Highfield Festival, a music event held this weekend in Grosspoesna, Germany, experienced moments of terror. The incident was captured in several videos by attendees who couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.
Terror at the Highfield Festival
In the footage, two cabins of the Ferris wheel can be seen suddenly catching fire, producing a thick column of smoke. Spectators watched helplessly as the scene unfolded.
At least 16 people were injured, though some reports indicate that the total number of injured could be as high as 22. Four people suffered serious burns, while the rest were affected by smoke inhalation. All were treated by emergency services at the scene and transported to a nearby hospital.
A fire has engulfed multiple cabins on a ferris wheel at the Highfield Music Festival in Grosspoesna, Germany.
More than 20 people are reported to have been injured, with the cause of the blaze being investigated. pic.twitter.com/0wLi4izfAx
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 18, 2024
The Cause of the Fire Remains Unknown
Based on the videos shared on social media, the fire appears to have originated suddenly in two of the Ferris wheel cabins. At this time, it is unclear whether the fire was caused by a mechanical failure or occurred accidentally.
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German authorities are already investigating the incident to determine what caused the accident. Despite the situation, the festival organizers did not cancel the scheduled events for Sunday, the day the accident occurred. They only released a message on social media, expressing their hope for a speedy recovery for all those affected.
Fortunately, despite the dramatic images shown in the videos, no deaths have been reported. Most of the injured are already out of danger.
📌Two gondolas on the Ferris wheel caught fire at the Highfield Festival near Leipzig, Germany. #Breaking pic.twitter.com/IRiPVlbkAY
— Vega (@Vega12991453) August 18, 2024
