Thousands evacuated as fire breaks out at Germany’s largest amusement park

THOUSANDS of people have been evacuated as a fire engulfed part of Germany’s largest amusement park.

Nobody was hurt in the mass evacuation but seven firefighters were injured while trying to put out the blaze at Europa-park, in the southwestern town of Rust.

The fire started early on Saturday evening in a storage building, and then moved to engulf and destroy the Pirates of Batavia boat ride.

Some 250 firefighters tack- led the blaze, finally managing to extinguish it yesterday morning.

Offenburg police said in a statement that the firefighters had been “lightly injured” but all had been able to leave hospital.

Most of the park has now reopened.

However, parts of the Dutch and Scandinavian-themed areas have been extensively damaged and remain closed.

Europa-park’s chief executive Michael Mack said on Twitter that it had been a “sad day” for the park.