In an unexpected twist of events, the Tomorrowland festival in Belgium is set to proceed as scheduled after a fire consumed the main stage just days before the much-anticipated event.
Tomorrowland Festival to Proceed Despite Main Stage Fire
Tomorrowland Festival to Proceed Despite Main Stage Fire
Festival organisers confirm Tomorrowland will continue as planned following a devastating fire incident that destroyed the main stage.
Tens of thousands of festival-goers have already set up camp at Tomorrowland in Boom, Belgium, just a day after a fire destroyed the festival's iconic main stage, known as Orbyz. Despite the significant damage, festival organisers have committed to hosting the event, emphasizing their focus on developing solutions and alternatives. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the fire, which occurred Wednesday evening, and experts are currently investigating its cause.
The festival is expected to draw a crowd of around 400,000 over two weekends, with notable performers such as David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia, and Charlotte De Witte scheduled to take the stage. The local fire department has declared the festival grounds safe, and discussions are underway regarding the possible demolition of the remains of the stage prior to the event’s start on Friday.
Tomorrowland took to Instagram, expressing the emotional impact of the fire, with sentiments that the main stage represented more than just a structure. They have been working diligently overnight to create contingency plans, meeting with safety experts and local officials for alternative arrangements. Jurgen Callaerts, the mayor of a nearby municipality, noted that discussions would continue on potential solutions, stressing that cancelling the festival entirely is not desired.
Witnesses described the scene of the fire as catastrophic, with one worker lamenting the loss of months of effort that culminated in less than an hour. The origins of the fire at around 18:00 local time have sparked concern, leading to the evacuation of some residents while firefighters battled the flames. Since its inception in 2005, Tomorrowland has grown into the largest electronic dance festival globally, bringing together music enthusiasts from around the world.
