Fireworks drama in Düsseldorf: 19 injured at the Volksfest!

Fireworks drama in Düsseldorf: 19 injured at the Volksfest!

A traditional fireworks at Düsseldorf Rheinkirmes took a dramatic turn on July 19, 2025 when at least one rocket flew into the amount of spectators and exploded there. The incident led 19 people to be injured, including four people, and at least one child. The exact circumstances that led to this tragedy are currently still unclear. However, the police assume an accident. According to the head of the shooter and co-organizer Andreas-Paul Stieber, a fallen starting ramp could have been the cause. OE24

eyewitnesses reported that the rockets not only flew in the wrong direction, but also exploded very deeply. A second rocket was also spotted in the crowd. Part of the explosions was visible both in the sky and near the ground. Some rockets ended up in the Rhine, which contributed to the confusion and panic. The fire brigade confirmed that misguided rockets detonated in the crowd, and the pressure of the explosion was noticeable to the other side of the Rhine Tagesschau .

First aid and support on site

Around 80 fire and emergency services employees were on site and offered immediate help. The emergency services were used for about two hours after the incident, with the last patient being taken to the hospital one hour after the event. Passers -by support the paramedics by holding infusions. After the incident, many of the visitors were in shock and the organizers, who initially continued the fireworks, decided finally to end the fun fair prematurely OE24 .

The industry is now also discussing the safety of fireworks. In recent years there have always been accidents at such events. Between 2018 and 2022, for example, around 200 accidents were documented in connection with fireworks, which is a clear sign of the need for security measures. According to the recommendations of the fire prevention advice center, missiles should only be started from well -anchored shooting rods in order to avoid such incidents. Abnormalities such as handicrafts on fireworks or firing in crowds of people have been identified as the main causes of accidents bfu.ch .