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Athens holiday ferris wheel dismantled for safety concerns

Xinhua, December 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

A ferris wheel set up last week on Syntagma square in central Athens for the Christmas and New Year Eve holiday season was dismantled for safety concerns on Thursday after prosecutors launched a probe into its installation process.

The 35-meter high wheel was installed by a Dutch company on Dec. 21 with a temporary permit issued by the Municipality of Athens and was intended to be the highlight in the Christmas village set up on the square.

However, it never turned after a safety inspection by regional authorities found that it fell below standards.

An Athens prosecutor ordered an investigation into the case, while the City of Athens issued a press release apologizing for the incident.

The incident led to the resignation of the official of the municipality responsible for cultural events.

The City of Athens assured the public that the cost of the wheel's installation and removal would fall on the shoulders of the private contractor, not the citizens of Athens. Enditem