Watch: Ferris Wheel Catches Fire At German Music Festival, 65 Receive Treatment

A thrilling night at Highfield Music Festival near Leipzig, Germany turned hazardous when a Ferris wheel caught fire and it sparked chaos among festival attendees. While the initial reports didn’t reveal much, police later suggested that the fire may have been fueled by mats, possibly ignited by cigarettes, fireworks or an electrical fault. Emergency services quickly arrived and treated 65 people at the scene, Leipzig police spokeswoman Josephin Sader shared. On the other hand, 16 out of 23, who were seriously injured, were taken to hospitals for further care. Most injuries were minor, mainly from smoke inhalation and among those hurt were four police officers. As per German media, DW, the fire broke out at around 9 PM while rapper Ski Aggu was performing on stage.

Speaking with BILD news, Otfried Hanstein, member of the festival’s organising team, claimed that no one was in the gondola when the fire began. He said, “Something like this has never happened in four generations. The fire broke out on the ground. My employees told me that there were no people in the gondola at the time. They sped up the Ferris wheel and also the evacuation of the other gondolas. The worst thing now is the uncertainty. I don’t know how the injured are doing.”

Following the investigation, Saxony police noted on X, “After the fire investigators were deployed, an initial assessment was made. In a previously unknown manner, material underneath the Ferris wheel caught fire. As a result, the fire spread to a gondola. The investigation is ongoing.”

While the Ferris wheel was burning at the Highfield Music Festival, Ski Aggu continued performing on stage, which left many uncomfortable. According to an eyewitness, many attendees were upset by what the artist said, especially since the smell of smoke was already noticeable. However, it was later understood that the artist was actually trying to keep the crowd calm and avoid causing a panic in the already concerning situation.

Another eyewitness mentioned, “When the first gondola caught fire, the people in the other gondolas were wildly shining the flashlights of their mobile phones outside to draw attention to themselves. They must have been terrified.” A person also added, “It smelled strangely of burnt rubber, but it wasn’t burning yet. When we left the Ferris wheel and turned around three minutes later, it was ablaze.”

The fire was extinguished within 30 minutes, while the area was quickly closed to the public. A special investigation team arrived the next day to look into what caused the fire. Meanwhile, event organisers announced that the festival would continue as scheduled and thanked attendees for staying calm during the emergency.