Flames one meter high, thick clouds of smoke: the main stage of the Tomorrowland festival in Boom, Belgium, was on fire Wednesday night. Initially, nothing was known about injuries: around 1,000 people were on site when the fire broke out. Videos show the scale of the devastating blaze. On Friday, Tomorrowland, one of Europe's largest music festivals, was supposed to officially begin.
It is known worldwide for its huge and elaborate stages, and every year around 400,000 guests visit the mega-festival, known for the EDM music genre. But it is unknown whether the event can take place over two days as planned. The cause of the fire is still unclear: What caused the huge inferno of flames on the main stage has not yet been clarified. The organizer only confirmed the fire on Wednesday night around 7 p.m., but did not indicate the cause.
"Rescuers are on site. Our main priority now is safety," festival spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. Later, the all-clear was given: no one had been injured. According to the Belgian newspaper HLN, the fire was caused by fireworks, but this has not been officially confirmed.
Flemish public broadcaster VRT reported explosions in the area where the fire originated. Videos circulating on social media show the devastating extent of the blaze. Organizers are working on a solution: the main stage was badly damaged. The Tomorrowland team spoke of a "major incident."
The exact cause of the fire is still being investigated. However, organizers sought to spread optimism. The campsite will open on Thursday as planned, and it was announced that activities in Brussels and Antwerp will also go ahead as planned. The festival itself has not yet been canceled. Solutions are being worked on, she said.
