A massive fire has consumed several at Europe’s second biggest theme park, sending plumes of smoke miles into the air as flames licked 45ft high.
The blaze broke out at Europa-Park in Rust, near Germany’s southwest border with France, about 6.20pm on Saturday with more than 200 firefighters battling to control it.
Billowing smoke was seen for miles around, causing panic among Germans on social media as it spread across the popular tourist attraction.
A massive fire has consumed several at Europe’s second biggest theme park, sending plumes of smoke miles into the air as flames licked 45ft high
Spectacular aerial video captured the flames burning a huge section of the park to the ground as it moved from building to building out of control
Photos posted to social media showed the raging fire levelling the buildings in the Scandinavian area (during fire and after pictured)
How the fire started was unknown but it started at the ‘Pirates of Batavia’, a ‘water-dark ride’ about 400m long, which was completely destroyed.
Other attractions damaged or destroyed in the blaze included ‘Bamboe Baai’, Fashion World Camp Davin & Soccx, the Fjord Restaurant and a Scandinavian-themed area.
Photos posted to social media showed the raging fire levelling the buildings in the Scandinavian area, and other parts of the park, including large warehouses, reduced to rubble.
Spectacular aerial video captured the flames burning a huge section of the park to the ground as it moved from building to building out of control.
The blaze broke out at Europa-Park in Rust, near Germany’s southwest border with France, about 6.20pm on Saturday with more than 200 firefighters battling to control it
Billowing smoke was seen for miles around, causing panic among Germans on social media as it spread across the popular tourist attraction
How the fire started was unknown but it started at the ‘Pirates of Batavia’, a ‘water-dark ride’ about 400m long, which was completely destroyed
Whole sections of the park were reduced to smoldering ruins as visitors were caught off guard and had to flee the area
Terrified tourists were evacuated from the park and surrounding area as soon as the fire sparked and authorities said there were no injuries.
Rehearsals for a popular show Immer Wieder Sundays were being conducted in the park as the fire raged, with Swiss pop star Beatrice Egli fleeing along with hundreds of others.
She filmed the devastation and posted it to her social media with the caption ‘oh my god!’
The fire was finally brought under control about 9pm. Police will investigate the cause in a ‘criminal investigation’.
Europa-Park attracts 5.6 million visitors a year, making it the most popular theme park in Germany and the second most in Europe after Disneyland Paris.