Roller Coaster Fire Injures 54
From Times Wire Reports
A fire raged through a roller coaster at one of Europe’s largest amusement parks, forcing 150 passengers to scramble down 60-foot ladders to escape. At least 54 people were injured, most of them suffering smoke inhalation.
Phantasialand in Bruehl in western Germany was filled with 20,000 guests for the May Day holiday, officials said.
“We just barely avoided a catastrophe,” said Cologne police director Winrich Granitzka.
The park’s founder said the fire probably began in a cable.
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