At least 23 people were injured when two gondolas of a Ferris wheel caught fire at a music festival near Leipzig in eastern Germany. According to local police, four people suffered burn injuries, with one person injured by falling.

First responders on the scene, as well as people riding the ferris wheel, came into contact with smoke. Four people suffered burn injuries and one suffered injuries from a fall. Others, including first responders and at least four police officers, were to be examined in the hospital for possible smoke inhalation, dpa reported. A total of 18 people were taken to hospital for further medical treatment.

A spokesperson from Leipzig police said that: "Shortly after 21:00, the police were informed that the gondolas of the festival's Ferris wheel here at Highfield Festival were on fire. The fire has since been extinguished.

"What we now know is that there are four people with burn injuries and one person with fall injuries.

"In addition, first responders, including police officers, and other occupants of the gondolas have come into contact with smoke, who have now also received medical treatment and are all being taken to hospital.

"I was definitely very shocked," said eyewitness Angelo Leunich, "but I have to say that the [security personnel] handled it very well. We were told step by step to move a little further away, by 5 metres, and then again, to keep a little more distance. So as far as that was concerned, it was handled very well."

The fire started in one gondola and then spread to a second one, police said.

A burnt-out gondola on the Ferris wheel. – AP

The accident took place at the Highfield Festival at Stoermthaler Lake near Leipzig. Police are still investigating what caused the fire.

The operator of the Ferris Wheel told dpa that no passengers were sitting in the gondola in which the fire started.

Local media reported that the festival continued after the incident, with the scene of the fire cordoned off.The Highfield festival takes place near the Stoermthaler lake in the constituency of Grosspoesna, and is one of the biggest rock music festivals in the region, with up to 25,000 attendees.

Eyewitness video of the fire developing. – Reuters