A massive fire has engulfed the main stage of the world-renowned Tomorrowland festival in Belgium, just two days before it was scheduled to open. The blaze, which broke out on Wednesday, has left the iconic stage in ruins, according to festival organizers.
A Huge Blow to Tomorrowland
In a statement, organizers confirmed that the main stage has been “severely damaged” but reassured the public that no one was injured. Thick plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the festival grounds in Boom, Belgium, and fireworks could be heard in the distance. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
Around 1,000 staff members were on site at the time of the fire and have since been evacuated. Festival spokesperson Debby Wilmsen shared the heartbreak felt by the crew, noting the stage took years of “love and passion” to build.
Tomorrowland Pledges to Continue Despite Devastation
Despite the devastating fire, Tomorrowland is moving forward. The festival’s “DreamVille” campsite is still set to open on Thursday as planned, and organizers are working on “finding solutions” for the festival weekend.
“We’re going to make it a great festival,” Wilmsen said. “It will be without a main stage, but hopefully we can do something else.”
Local residents like Morgan Hermans were terrified by the sight of the fire. “It’s one of the biggest events in the entire year,” she told CNN, highlighting the importance of the festival to the small town of Boom. Local police have advised people to stay away from the smoke to allow emergency services to work.
