Storm kills 5, injures 70 at Belgian music festival

Storm kills 5, injures 70 at Belgian music festival

2011-08-19 13:56:40 GMT+7 (ICT)

HASSELT, BELGIUM (BNO NEWS) -- Five people were killed on Thursday evening and dozens more were injured when a severe storm wreaked havoc at a music festival in northern Belgium, officials said on Friday morning.

The accident happened at around 6.15 p.m. local time at the Pukkelpop festival near Hasselt when heavy rainfall and hail accompanied by strong winds hit the region, collapsing a number of tent structures and uprooting several large trees, causing further damage.

The tragedy happened on the first day of the annual music festival, which takes place in the village of Kiewit, about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) north of Hasselt. It is the country's second largest music festival with more than 180,000 visitors.

Hilde Claes, the mayor of Hasselt, confirmed on Friday morning that two more people had died overnight, raising the death toll to five. More than 70 people have been injured, of whom eight people remain in a critical condition.

Organizers of the festival had initially said the event would continue on Friday morning, but this decision was later reversed after people said it would be disrespectful to the victims.

"We have struggled with the decision to continue the festival. Therefore we have decided to cancel Pukkelpop 2011," the organizers said in a statement. "What has happened is very exceptional and could not have been predicted."

The organization called on visitors of the festival to return home calmly and said extra buses and trains have been organized to bring everyone home. "We ask everyone to understand that this decision was extremely difficult to make," the statement said.

Jared Leto of American rock band '30 Seconds to Mars', which was scheduled to perform at the event on Thursday evening, offered his condolences. "We are absolutely devastated that this celebration ended in tragedy," Leto said. "To those that were injured we are sending thoughts and prayers. [..] We love you all and hope tomorrow brings a better day."

The accident happened nearly a week after an outdoor stage collapsed during a music event at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis, killing five people and injuring 45 others.

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