A powerful fire broke out at an amusement park in the western Swedish city of Gothenburg on Monday, engulfing outdoor water slides and related facilities under construction. The massive blaze destroyed several tube waterslides at the Oceana watermark, an addition to the Liseberg amusement park set to open later this year, and other construction equipment and buildings.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Witnesses reported hearing several explosions during the flame-out. One online video showed the flames engulfing an entire section of the yet-to-open water park, with black smoke billowing into the air.
An investigation has been launched, according to police. No serious injuries have been reported, and the water park has been evacuated. Residents were advised to stay indoors due to the thick smoke. A hotel and office facilities close to the park were evacuated.
A spokeswoman for the company building the site said a subcontractor was working on some installations when the fire started. She did not know the extent of the damage but added that no one was injured. The company was NCC.
The blaze destroyed what the spokeswoman called “a substantial portion” of the facility, including the main building and several other buildings that housed machinery and supplies. She said the construction site was located on the shore, close to water, and the blaze caused significant structural damage.
She said the fire would likely take some time to put out as it burned through a lot of insulation. The building’s roof was also completely burnt out, and the ceiling collapsed in the main building.
Some water slides, which will be installed this summer, had been partly filled with water. But the fire was so intense that the water evaporated, leaving only a skeleton of the structure, a witness told Expressen newspaper.
Firefighters have been fighting the blaze since early morning and were still working on it Monday evening. Black smoke was visible over the city, Sweden’s second-largest.
An important seaport, Gothenburg, lies off the Göta älv river on the country’s west coast. The city’s rich maritime, trade, and industrial heritage is reflected in its cultural life, with theaters, art galleries, and museums. It is also known for its restaurants, with its best chefs drawing inspiration from the region’s seafood and produce. Standouts include the wood-paneled Koka, chef Bjorn Persson’s ode to contemporary Scandinavian cuisine, and Norda, whose menu showcases hyper-local ingredients and Manhattan flair.
The park was founded in 1923 and is one of the largest amusement parks in the Nordic region. It features rollercoasters, a children’s playground, boat rides, and more. Its annual attendance is more than 1.2 million. In 2018, it was ranked the third most visited theme park in Europe. The attraction is a flagship of the city’s tourism industry.
