22,000 evacuated after fire on festival stage near Barcelona

The stage of Tomorrowland electronic music festival caught fire near Barcelona, Spain, late Saturday. Screenshot from EFE TV/EPA

July 30 (UPI) — More than 22,000 people were evacuated when a fire broke out on the stage at the Tomorrowland music festival north of Barcelona, Spain, authorities said.

No injuries were reported in the fire at the Parc de Can Zam on Santa Coloma de Gramenet, authorities said.

“The UNITE Barcelona stage caught fire due to a technical malfunction,” according to a statement on the Tomorrowland website. “Thanks to the professional intervention of the authorities all 22,000 visitors were evacuated safely and without reports of injuries. Authorities will follow up and continue the investigation with the local Spanish organizer of UNITE.”

The local fire brigade said a malfunction in the pyrotechnic equipment is suspected of starting the fire at 10:30 p.m. and it was brought under control a half hour later.

Although the fire was extinguished, the “the entire assembly structure is at risk of collapsing,” the city’s fire officials said in a statement.

The event was canceled after the fire.

The Tomorrowland festival, which highlights electronic dance music, has taken place for 12 years in different countries. It was first held in Belgium and took place in Spain for the first time this year.

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