Belgium's Pukkelpop festival cancelled after stage collapse

Fri, 19 Aug 2011

Organisers of Belgium's Pukkelpop Festival have cancelled the festival after a storm tore through the event yesterday and up to five people sadly lost their lives (different local media are reporting different numbers).

As the storm hit the festival site tents collapsed, trees uprooted and giant screens were knocked to the ground in the main arena on the annual event's opening day.  Many festival goers were injured as they tried to escape the devastating weather.

Festival organisers have issued the following statement as they annouced the cancellation of the remaining days of the 3 day event, "Pukkelpop is in deep mourning. We truly sympathise with the families and friends of the victims. Words are not enough. 

We have struggled with the decision to continue the festival. Therefore we have decided to cancel Pukkelpop 2011. 

What has happened is very exceptional and could not have been predicted. We are deeply moved by all the spontaneous support the festival goers and the organisation have received. 

We call on all Pukkelpoppers to return home calmly. Extra buses and trains have been organised to bring everybody home. We ask everyone to understand that this decision was extremely difficult to make."

Our thoughts are with those affected by yesterday's terrible events.