FESTIVAL BLAZE
Horror as fire erupts on ferris wheel during packed Highfield Festival in Germany as several rushed to hospital
Watch the blaze burning above at the crowded festival
A HUGE fire erupted on a ferris wheel at a busy festival in Germany with several people rushed to hospital and more than 30 injured.
Shocking video showed flames and black smoke rising from one of the cable car compartments on the attraction at Highfield Festival in Leipzig.
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Eyewitnesses said there were still people onboard the ride when it caught alight at around 9pm local time.
Footage shared on social media showed dozens of people staring up at the wheel in horror as it burned.
It continued to turn with sparks flying from the metal frame as the blaze raged.
Four police officers were among the dozens injured in the fire, with two people seriously hurt.
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A second compartment also caught fire during the horror incident, with both left completely torched.
One woman in the crowd exclaimed "s**t" as she watched on.
The huge wheel looked to be made up of at least two dozen compartments, with two very close to the one burning in the clip.
The popular festival attracts some 30,000 visitors each year.
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Local police spokeswoman Josephin Sader told : "The fire broke out in one gondola for reasons still unknown and then spread to a second one.
"We currently know that there are over 30 injured people, including four injured police officers, but all of them are probably slightly injured."
"Two people were seriously injured. There were no fatalities."
Those being treated in hospital are now reportedly in a stable condition and the fire has been extinguished.
Many of the minor injuries were reportedly caused by smoke inhalation.
German rapper Ski Aggu was performing when the fire broke out and stopped his set to comment on it before ending the show early.
American artist Macklemore is set to headline at the festival tomorrow.
This year marks the 15th annual Highfield Festival.
One of the event organisers said around an hour after the fire broke out "The show must go on."
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Festivities will continue as planned for the rest of the night.
The cause of the blaze remains unknown.
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