Huge blaze evacuates Germany’s biggest theme park, injures 7 firefighters

Monday, May 28, 2018

A gigantic fire at one of the most popular amusement parks of Europe compelled the evacuation of about 25,000 visitors, injuring seven firefighters who were attempting to control the blaze at Europa-Park in Rust, southwest Germany on Saturday night.

The fire had started inside a stor4age building prior to spreading through portions of the Dutch and Scandinavian-themed areas.

Video footage captured by witnesses portrayed huge clo9ud of black smoke billowing from the park while flames destroyed the Pirates of Batavia boat ride. Other photographs showed the burning wreckage of buildings in the Scandinavian section.

Despite the damage, majority of the park reopened around 9 a.m. on Sunday morning. Thereafter police confirmed that no members of the public or employees had been injured in the huge blaze. In a statement the Offenburg Police mentioned that the cause of the fire is yet to be clear and investigation is still going on.

The rescue operation involved around 500 members of the emergency services that included 250 firefighters.

All seven of those who had been injured in the blaze have been discharged from hospital following medical treatment for inhalation of smoke. Michael Mack, chief executive of Europa-Park, said on Twitter that it had been a “sad day” and thanked the emergency services and staff.

The park said on its website that several attractions remained closed, including the Panorama Railway, the monorail, fjord rafting and the jungle raft trip.

Europa-Park lured around 5.7 million visitors last year, making it Europe’s second-most popular amusement park after Disneyland Paris.

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