Horror as fire erupts on Ferris wheel during German festival, leaving more than 30 injured

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.

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.

Eyewitnesses said there were still people on-board 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.

Footage shows dozens of people starting up at the wheel in horror as it burned. Picture: X

Eyewitnesses claim there were still people on-board when it caught alight. Picture: X

Four police officers were among the dozens injured in the fire, with two people seriously hurt.

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.

“The fire broke out in one gondola for reasons still unknown and then spread to a second one,” Local police spokeswoman Josephin Sader told BILD.

“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.”

Sparks fell from the burning cable car. Picture: X

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.”

Festivities will continue as planned for the rest of the night.

The cause of the blaze remains unknown.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission