"I've never seen a fire development like this before" - firefighters talk about the fire gas explosion at the amusement park in Gothenburg

On February 12, a large fire gas explosion occurred at the popular amusement park Liseberg in the western Swedish city of Gothenburg.  A large amount of plastics created toxic and energy rich smoke when  water slides and related facilities that were under construction burned, eyewitnesses and rescue services said.

Liseberg's official statement revealed that the fire originated from an outdoor water ride before engulfing the entire building.

According to reports from the regional newspaper Göteborgs-Posten, firefighting efforts were still underway as of 1700 GMT, with expectations of a prolonged operation.

The thick black smoke billowing above the city prompted authorities to advise residents in the vicinity to remain indoors and keep their windows closed to protect against the potentially harmful fumes.

The firefighters were in the tower - when Liseberg's new major investment "Oceana" exploded

In a post on Swedish Television SVT.se, fire officer Joakim Hallenberg  told his story from that day. The firefighters entered Oceana (a new  addition to the park, stil under construction) to save lives - but were nearly caught by the explosion of flammable gases themselves. 

Now the firefighters tell for the first time about the dramatic rescue operation - when Liseberg's new major investment caught fire and later exploded. 

"When we arrived, we were met by a fire inferno, says Joakim Hallenberg, smoke diving leader.

"When it blew, the visibility went to zero in a fraction of a second." 

In the clip, the firefighters talk about the rescue operation.

Six minutes after the alarm, the rescue service arrives at Liseberg's new water park Oceana in Gothenburg.

A thick, black smoke was spreading over over Gothenburg during the fire at Liseberg, Oceana. 

The public was warned 50 minutes after the alarm according to Stefan Karlsson, regional commander at the Greater Gothenburg Fire & Rescue.  

The rescue service is currently investigating its own operation at the fire at Liseberg Oceana A water slide is ablaze and a thick, black column of smoke rises from the nearly completed billion-dollar project.

"The fire development was unlike anything I have ever seen before", says Joakim Hallenberg, who has worked as a firefighter for 22 years.

Went into the tower - minutes later it exploded

Once on site, the team started the extinguishing work. Soon after they are informed that that there is one person left in the building - and decide to enter the tower. Two construction managers come along to help them find their way.

On the third floor, they open a door and are met by smoke that is motionless. They perform a so-called "close search" - shortly thereafter a fire gas explosion occurs.

"To me, it sounded like some kind of missile that hit just above us", says Joakim Hallenberg of the Greater Gothenburg Fire Department.

The tower filled with smoke, but together with the construction managers, they manage to get out and escape unharmed. The man they went in to search for, Liseberg's construction manager for Oceana, was later found dead.

"I am incredibly happy and grateful that all colleagues and NCC staff that we entered with are okay. But we are also of course saddened that a man did not come home that day", says firefighter Jonas Strandh.

Reports to the Swedish Work Environment Authority, which  SVT.se  has previously reported on , show that the rescue service has made a report to the Swedish Work Environment Authority about a so-called "serious incident". This since the firefighters were in and just outside the tower when the explosion occurred, which posed serious risks to them. 

The operation will be further investigated.

Cover Photo: (Above) 

The water park Liseberg Oceana under construction in Gothenburg burned on the 12th of February 2024.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons License. 

12 February 2024, 13:28:45

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