The main stage of the Tomorrowland festival completely burned down on Wednesday evening. Several Belgian media reported this based on the present emergency services. The dance festival near Antwerp is scheduled to begin on Friday.
Fireworks explosions were reportedly heard, according to VRT NWS. Emergency services are massively present at the Tomorrowland festival grounds in Boom, near Antwerp. The cause of the fire is unknown, writes HLN.
Images show that the entire decor of the main stage has burned down. According to HLN, the fire may spread to a fire nearby. A B-alert has been sent to the neighborhood around Tomorrowland. The police are calling on local residents of the festival grounds to keep windows and doors closed.
Tomorrowland, one of the largest dance festivals in the world, begins this coming Friday. It is still unclear what consequences the fire will have for the festival. The organization is not yet available for comment.
The festival has been organized since 2005 and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around two hundred countries every year. Tomorrowland will be held this year during the weekend of July 18-20, and the weekend of July 25-27.
Tomorrowland was named the best (dance) festival in the world in June. It was the fifth year in a row that the festival won the prize from the British magazine DJ Mag. Tomorrowland is also visited by many Dutch people every year.