5 dead, numerous people injured after storm hits Pukkelpop festival in Belgium

[Bralo20]

Arround 18h15 last night a severe storm hit the famous "Pukkelpop" festival in Kiewit near Hasselt, Belgium.

While the American band "Smith Westerns" was performing a short but extreme storm hit the festivalgrounds. Rain, hail, thunder and wind gusts hit the festival so hard that several stages, tents, trees, etc... collapsed under the heavy force of nature. Nearly immediately the so called "disaster plan" was started and fire, police and dozens of ambulances and emergency doctors were dispatched to the scene. On the festival an estimate of 60 to 65.000 people had joined for the performances of dozens of groups including famous ones like the Foo Fighters. After a short time span it became clear that the festival was hit hard and the organisation decided to stop the festival for the day. When the time passed the number of casulties and injured climbed. At this moment (08h30 in the morning) it has been confirmed that 5 people have died on the festival or in hospitals. The amount of injuries is still a bit unclear but at least 8 are in critical condition while multiple dozens have sustained injuries. This morning, the Pukkelpop organization has decided to cancel the festival completely out of respect for the casulties.

 

May they rest in peace...

 

 

Some pictures (copyright "Het Laatste Nieuws", a Belgian newspaper):

 

http://static2.hln.be/static/photo/2011/0/12/10/album_large_4327345.jpg

 

http://static0.hln.be/static/photo/2011/13/8/8/album_large_4327358.jpg

 

http://static3.hln.be/static/photo/2011/15/8/6/album_large_4327341.jpg

 

http://static2.hln.be/static/photo/2011/10/5/5/album_large_4327355.jpg

 

http://static3.hln.be/static/photo/2011/10/2/10/album_large_4327165.jpg

 

http://static0.hln.be/static/photo/2011/16/2/4/album_large_4327114.jpg

 

http://static2.hln.be/static/photo/2011/17/3/5/album_large_4327115.jpg

 

During the storm:

 

http://static3.hln.be/static/photo/2011/12/0/4/album_large_4327129.jpg

[Bralo20]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLO5zl5s4XY

[Bralo20]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3p711088UU

[Bralo20]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okyx6HbpHmI

[I Love You]

That is truly horrible and sad news. May, all the people killed rest in peace and all those injured recover soon.

[takeachance]

horrible. so weird it happened same week as sugarland concert. bizzare!! may they rest in peace.

[the power of celine]

my heart go's out to the family and friends of the victims,

Also lots of strength to the people who are in the hospital and all the people who were there, respect for the workers who helped, Chokri and the people who helped festival go'ers they were stranded on a bed and breakfast ♥ ♥

Edited August 19, 2011 at 07:29 PM by the power of celine