Oktoberfest 2024 breaks records: over 500 medical calls on the first day

On Saturday, September 20, the 190th beer festival 'Oktoberfest' opened in Munich, which is the largest folk festival in the world. The mayor of the city, Dieter Reiter, inaugurated the event by tapping the first barrel of beer with just two strikes of a hammer. For the first time in the history of the celebration, the temperature exceeded 30 degrees on the first day of the festival. People in Bavarian costumes had already formed queues at the entrance to the festive area of Theresienwiese to take up the best spots. According to the German Weather Service, 30.7 °C was recorded on the opening day, which became the highest figure in the entire history of measurements during 'Oktoberfest'. With a combination of heat, alcohol, and large crowds, calls for medical assistance broke records. Over 500 emergency service calls were registered on the first day alone. Complaints primarily concerned circulation issues and overheating. The youngest victim was 11 years old, and the oldest patient was 72. The newspaper Bild reported a tragic incident: before the festival began, a 71-year-old artist was found dead in a van. Police have preliminarily ruled out foul play. This year at Oktoberfest, there are 14 large floor pavilions and over 150 attractions. Over 600 police officers, nearly 1000 city service personnel, and private security guards are ensuring order. All visitors pass through metal detectors, and there are also medical stations and lost and found offices. During Oktoberfest, new records for the number of drunk visitors and beer consumption will be set. The celebration will last until October 5. The official opening of Oktoberfest in Munich attracted a record number of visitors but also resulted in an increase in emergency service calls due to heat and overheating. An unusually high temperature was noted at the beginning of the festival, which set a record. Despite this, Oktoberfest promises to be a bright and unforgettable event for all participants until its conclusion on October 5.