Fireworks misfire at Düsseldorf fair injures 19, including child

At least 19 people were injured during a fireworks display at a fair in Düsseldorf, Germany, on the night of July 18.

According to a statement released by the Düsseldorf Fire Department early on July 19, the injured included at least one child, with four individuals sustaining serious injuries, Caliber.Az reports, citing German media.

Nearly 80 fire and emergency rescue personnel were dispatched to the site in response to the incident.

A video filmed from the opposite bank of the river captured simultaneous explosions in both the sky and on the ground.

“I was at the fair watching the fireworks,” recalled one eyewitness. “Some of the rockets flew alarmingly low and exploded near the crowd. I remember thinking it seemed dangerously close to people.”

Preliminary findings by fire officials suggest that some of the rockets may have malfunctioned and deviated from their intended trajectory, with one reportedly firing directly into the crowd.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause, though their initial assessment points to an accident.

Following the incident, organisers of the Düsseldorfer Rheinkirmes — also known as the Largest Fair on the Rhine — made the decision to halt the festivities early.

In a statement, the organisers expressed deep regret over the accident. A spokesperson added that they would now be reviewing whether the fair’s traditional fireworks display should continue in the coming years.

The fair, which began on July 11 and was scheduled to conclude on July 20, traces its origins to a historic annual celebration held in honour of Düsseldorf’s patron saint, Apollinaris.

By Tamilla Hasanova