BERLIN: At least 23 people were injured when two gondolas of a Ferris wheel caught fire at the Highfield music festival near Leipzig in eastern Germany, news agency dpa reported Sunday. The incident, which occurred on Saturday night at Stoermthaler Lake, has raised serious concerns.
According to news agency dpa, the fire ignited in one gondola of the Ferris wheel and rapidly spread to a second gondola. Initial reports indicate that four persons sustained burn injuries, while another suffered injuries from a fall. The remaining injured, including first responders and at least four police officers, are being evaluated in hospitals for smoke inhalation.
The fire’s origin remains unclear as police continue to investigate the cause of the blaze. At the time of the fire, the operator of the Ferris wheel confirmed to dpa that no passengers were present in the gondola where the fire first started.
