The accident in Spain’s Valencia region was caused by “an unexpected and violent gale,” organizers of the music event said
One person was killed and dozens injured in the early hours of Saturday when strong gusts of wind brought down the stage at a music festival in Spain’s Valencia region.
According to local Emergency Coordination Center, the tragic incident at Cullera’s Medusa Festival occurred at 4:08 AM.
Although the original number of injuries was 17 people, the Health Ministry confirmed later that there were 40 who had sustained severe injuries. According to the ministry’s statement, as quoted by Spanish media, some of those hospitalized with injuries have already been discharged.
The organizers of the festival, which was supposed to see a total of 320,000 attendees over three days from Friday through Sunday, said that they are “completely devastated and dismayed at what happened this morning.”
Those in charge of the event provided some details of the fatal incident, saying that at around 4am “Unexpectedly, a powerful gale ravaged certain parts of the festival. The management had to evacuate the area immediately to ensure the safety of all attendees, employees, and artists at Medusa Festival.”
“Unexpected consequences were caused by the catastrophic meteorological phenomena. We offer our love and support to those who are affected by these sad and difficult times.” the statement reads.
Videos on social media show the moment when the venue’s structures, including the main stage, fell on people in the front rows. According to El Pais the only fatality was a 22 year-old man, who was struck by a part of stage.
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Ximo Puig, the head of the Valencia’s regional government, expressed his condolences over the accident.
“My deepest sympathies go out to the loved ones of the young man who was killed at the Medusa Festival, Cullera. The recovery of the injured is being closely monitored by us.” Puig tweeted.
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