New water park in Sweden explodes into massive fireball

US News

By Emily Crane

A raging inferno erupted at a new water park in Sweden on Monday, with flames decimating a number of under-construction outdoor waterslides and related facilities, authorities said.

The massive blaze ripped through several yet-to-be-opened waterslides, including one with a drop of 43 feet, at the Oceana waterpark in Goteberg — sending plumes of black smoke over Sweden’s second-largest city.

Harrowing footage shot by witnesses showed the slides, which had been scheduled to open in the coming months, engulfed by flames as several firefighting vehicles descended on the area.

At least three explosions sent debris from nearby buildings scattering over the burning waterslides.

The waterpark is a new addition to Gothenburg’s Liseberg funfair — one of the Nordic region’s biggest amusement parks.

“The fire started at one of the water rides outside the building and then spread to the entire building,” Liseberg said in a statement.

There were no immediate reports of any injuries, police and fire officials said.

A subcontractor had been doing some installations when the blaze started, a spokeswoman for NCC group, which is the general contractor for the construction, told Swedish broadcaster SVT.

The fire department had urged those living in the vicinity to stay inside and to keep windows closed to protect against the fumes and thick black smoke.

Nearby hotel and office facilities were evacuated, the park and police said.

With Post wires