We are deeply saddened to hear that at least five people have died and many more have been injured at Belgium’s Pukkelpop Festival. A sudden violent storm hit the festival site yesterday, uprooting trees, knocking down scaffolding and causing two stages to collapse. As a result, the organisers have made the difficult decision to cancel the rest of the festival.
"Pukkelpop is in deep mourning", they said in a statement on their website this morning. "We truly sympathise with the families and friends of the victims.
"Words are not enough. We have struggled with the decision to continue the festival. Therefore we have decided to cancel Pukkelpop 2011.
"What has happened is very exceptional and could not have been predicted. We are deeply moved by all the spontaneous support the festival goers and the organisation have received.
"We ask everyone to understand that this decision was extremely difficult to make."
Our thoughts are with those affected.
This is the second year in a row that Pukkelpop has been marred by tragic events. Last year, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool frontman Charles Haddon died after falling from a high mast in the festival’s backstage area.
