Breaking News / Penghu Fireworks Festival Opening Ceremony Goes Up in Flames – Netizens: The Ferris Wheel Becomes a Firewheel

▲The Penghu Fireworks Festival caught fire during the opening ceremony (April 18)! (Photo / Reposted from Bao Lie Gong She)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The 2016 Penghu Sea Fireworks Festival opened on April 18 with a spectacular fireworks display and an “O Show” Ferris wheel concept that had generated great excitement among the public. However, around 9:30 PM that evening, while the fireworks were still being set off, the Ferris wheel suddenly burst into flames. Numerous witnesses saw the blaze, and despite the fireworks show not being over, a large portion of the crowd had already dispersed. One netizen remarked wryly,“The Ferris wheel has turned into a firewheel.”.

▲During the opening fireworks show at 8 PM on the 8th, this “O Show Ferris wheel” caught fire. (Photo / Reposted from Bao Lie Gong She)

The 2016 Penghu International Sea Fireworks Festival invited pyrotechnic experts from Japan, China, Italy, Austria, and Russia. They also specially introduced a 12-meter diameter, 15-meter tall “O Show” theater tech performance, combining fireworks with cutting-edge technology to deliver a more stunning visual experience. However, during the opening fireworks show held at 9 PM on the 18th, around 9:30 PM, the “O Show Ferris wheel” unexpectedly caught fire and went up in flames.

Since many tourists were on-site taking photos or live-streaming via their phones, the fire was witnessed and uploaded to “Bao Lie Gong She,” sparking a wave of discussion. Netizens posted comments expressing shock,“Is this… an extra performance?” “Is it special effects?” “The Ferris wheel fireworks turned into a firewheel.” “Our tax money just went up in smoke, sob.” “Luckily it’s over the water.”Others added more seriously: “You might think it’s fun, but the weather in Penghu has been unstable lately, and wind direction can really affect fireworks displays. At least no homes or people were hurt. Making jokes about it is really inappropriate.”

Fortunately, the fire department was on standby nearby and managed to extinguish the blaze in time. Additionally, the Ferris wheel was located on a seawall near the Rainbow Bridge, away from the crowds, so no major disaster occurred. Aside from the unexpected fire incident, however, the fireworks display designed by the Italian team seemed to disappoint many attendees, who felt it was “just okay” or “wanted to leave before the show ended.” Thankfully, there were no injuries.

▲This “O Show” Ferris wheel, which caught fire, has been dubbed a “firewheel” by netizens. (Photo / Reposted from Bao Lie Gong She / Photographed by Xu Yumi)

【Supplement】Official Statement from the Penghu International Sea Fireworks Festival (Excerpted from the official fan page:Penghu International Sea Fireworks Festival)

Regarding the opening fireworks display of the “2016 Penghu International Sea Fireworks Festival,” the Tourism Bureau provides the following explanation:

I. Regarding the O Show Equipment Fire:
A large number of pot flowers were placed on the O Show offshore platform. Due to the dense arrangement of fireworks, falling embers ignited the outer boxes of the flower pots, which then caused the fire to spread. Although the vendor had laid out fireproof blankets when setting up the fireworks, the strong winds made the fire difficult to control. Moreover, the area was filled with fireworks wiring. The fire department was on standby, but due to uncertainty about any unexploded shells, they prioritized evacuating the crowd for safety. The fire was brought under control around 10:40 PM.

II. Regarding Unfired High-Altitude Fireworks:
Due to the strong winds and the large quantity of fireworks for the opening show densely arranged along the seawall, falling embers burned through the main fireworks wiring, resulting in most high-altitude fireworks not igniting. As of the time of this statement, the fire department is still on-site working with the fireworks vendor to assess and clarify the cause.

III. The organizing committee deeply regrets and apologizes for the failure of the O Show performance during tonight’s opening fireworks, which affected the overall display effect. Responsibility will be investigated further once the cause is determined.

%寂旌??鸾谄鸹鹩捌?ㄓ埃??鸭/span>许玉米(Photographed and provided)

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