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News18
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Tomorrowland In Flames: Iconic Main Stage Catches Fire Day Before Festival Kick-Off In Belgium
Thick smoke and fireworks rose over Boom, Belgium, as a massive blaze tore through Tomorrowland's main stage. Around 1,000 staff were evacuated safely A massive fire engulfed the main stage of Belgium's iconic Tomorrowland music festival site on Wednesday, just 48 hours before the event was set to begin. The blaze destroyed the elaborate 'World of Orbyz"-themed structure, sending up thick plumes of smoke and forcing the evacuation of around 1,000 staff members from the site in Boom, north of Brussels. Festival organisers confirmed that no one was injured in the incident. 'Due to a serious incident and fire on the Tomorrowland Mainstage, our beloved Mainstage has been severely damaged. We can confirm that no one was injured during the incident," the organisers said in a statement published on the festival website. Video clips and images posted online showed the stage engulfed in flames, with fireworks exploding inside the blaze and smoke rising over the surrounding woodland. While the connection between the fireworks and the fire remains unclear, eyewitnesses told local media the blaze may have started during pyrotechnic tests on the right side of the stage. However, no official cause has been confirmed so far. Belgium's public broadcaster VRT reported that the fire was not yet under control at the time of their update, and that the main stage had been almost completely destroyed. Photos showed only charred metal frames left where the stage once stood. Firefighting Efforts And Emergency Response More than 50 firefighters from Boom and neighbouring Antwerp were deployed to the scene, managing to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby woods. Authorities issued emergency warnings advising residents to keep windows and doors shut as a precaution. However, fire officials later confirmed that the smoke was not toxic. The town's mayor, Jeroen Baert, cut short a vacation in Germany to return and manage the situation. Local police confirmed the fire in a post on X (formerly Twitter) and urged people to avoid the area and give way to emergency services. No Casualties, But Massive Setback No festival-goers were present at the site when the fire broke out, but around 1,000 staff members were safely evacuated, according to VRT. Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen said the crew was devastated: 'It took years to build, with so much love and passion." Despite the destruction, she confirmed the festival will go on, albeit without its famous centrepiece. 'We're going to make it a great festival. It will be without a main stage. But hopefully, we can do something else, but I can't say much about that yet," she said. The DreamVille campsite, which houses thousands of attendees during the multi-day festival, will open as scheduled on Thursday. 'We're expecting 38,000 festival-goers at DreamVille, at our campsite. We're really looking forward to it," Wilmsen added. A Blow For Boom CNN: 'There was just a big cloud of fireworks and smoke very near us, so that was a bit scary." 'It's one of the biggest events in the entire year. Our town is very small so to welcome people from around the entire world, it's crazy and it's so much fun. It's a big deal so everyone in Boom was a bit terrified for a few seconds." Not The First Fire This is the second major fire in Tomorrowland's history. In 2017, a blaze at its Barcelona satellite event led to the evacuation of 22,000 people, just hours before Steve Aoki was due to perform. As of now, the cause of Wednesday's fire is under investigation, and authorities are assessing whether any part of the main stage infrastructure can be salvaged before the festival's official opening on Friday. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Tomorrowland main stage goes up in flames two days before festival opens
Firefighters have battled to stop the blaze from spreading to nearby woodland after the blaze ripped through the main stage at the festival site. A huge fire has engulfed and completely destroyed the main stage at the Tomorrowland festival. Firefighters have battled to stop the blaze from spreading to nearby woodland after the blaze ripped through the main stage at the festival site in Boom, Belgium. The festival was due to start on Friday and around 1,000 employees are understood to be at the site, however no festivalgoers have yet arrived. According to local site VRT News, it is currently unclear whether anyone had been injured in the fire. Residents nearby have been asked to close their windows and doors. As reported by the Mirror, thousands of revellers make their way to the festival every year for one weekend where they listen to electronic sets. A festival spokesperson told local media: "Our priority now is the safety of our visitors and those in the surrounding area." The mayor of Boom, Jeroen Baert is understood to have cancelled his holiday in Germany and will be returning to handle the fall out from the fire. Fire crews shared concerns the blaze could spread to nearby woods and images have shown the blaze rapidly spreading through the area - although locals have been told the smoke is not toxic. Tomorrowland's main stage is considered a centre piece of the festival and typically reflects its yearly theme. This year, the theme was "The World of Orbyz." Video shared online shows the fire ripping through the main stage with thick plumes of smoke being sent up into the air. Fireworks could also be heard popping off, although it is unclear if they are directly linked to the cause of the fire. Another clip showed the fire appeared to have started on the right side of the stage. Shocked employees could be seen moving away from the main stage towards a grassy hill as the blaze continued to tear through the structure. Further videos shared online revealed the blaze had completely destroyed the main stage, leaving the frame of the structure behind. Photos also showed emergency services had arrived at the site with firefighters bravely battling the inferno. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The fire is a disaster with attendees, many of which are travelling by plane, set to arrive as camping opens tomorrow. The main stage makes up a huge part of the festival area and would significantly impact the number of attendees should the decision be made to shut it down but keep the weekend slot open. The Mirror has contacted Tomorrowland's management for comment. The festival draws revellers from across the globe over two weekends in the summer. Ahead of Weekend 1, the festival announced David Guetta and Charlotte De Witte among their headliners. Tomorrowland Belgium welcomed an estimated 400,000 people from more than 200 countries in 2024. The festival sold out in record time this year with 800,000 people expected to have attended over the two weekends, according to DJ Mag. According to Eventplanner, the festival has made more than 112.8 million Euros in revenue in recent years.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tomorrowland fire shock: Main stage engulfed in flames days before start of massive festival
Fire Breaks Out During Tomorrowland Festival Setup Chaos Caught on Camera Live Events Emergency Crews Rush to Contain the Blaze Residents Advised to Stay Indoors Amid Smoke Concerns Mayor Cancels Holiday to Respond to Crisis Tomorrowland Festival's Future Uncertain After Main Stage Burns FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel A huge fire has torn through the main stage at Tomorrowland in Boom, Belgium, just days before a large-scale annual electronic dance music festival was set to begin, as per a fire broke out on Wednesday, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky as the iconic stage went up in flames, as per The Mirror report. Around 1,000 workers were on site preparing for Friday's opening when the blaze suddenly started, as per the report. However, no festivalgoers were present, but the scene quickly turned chaotic as people scrambled away from the burning structure, according to The Mirror of the video footages shared online shows the fire starting on the right side of the stage, then spreading fast, as reported by The Mirror. It also shows shocked employees quickly moving away from the main stage towards a grassy hill as the blaze continued to tear through the structure, according to the even fireworks could be heard going off in the background, though it's unclear if they played a role in starting the fire, according to The Mirror other online videos, it can be seen that the blaze had completely destroyed the main stage, leaving only the frame of the structure behind, as per the READ: Israel bombs Syria after Iran strike, are we heading for a World War III - what we know so far While photos show that emergency services had arrived at the site with firefighters bravely battling the inferno, as reported by The to VRT News, it is still not known whether anyone had been injured in the fire. Meanwhile, residents nearby have been asked to close their windows and doors, as the fire was not yet under control at the time of writing The Mirror have shared concerns that the blaze could spread to nearby woods, and images show that the fire continues to rapidly spread through the area, although locals have been told the smoke is not toxic, as reported by The Mirror.A festival spokesperson told local media that, "Our priority now is the safety of our visitors and those in the surrounding area," as quoted by The Mirror READ: Opendoor stock skyrockets 24% — why has the rally gained momentum in recent days? While, the mayor of Boom, Jeroen Baert, has reportedly cancelled his holiday in Germany and will be returning to handle the situation as the fire broke, according to the is a massive electronic dance music festival that typically gathers more than 400,000 viewers, and this year's festival is set to start on Friday, July 18, as part of a two-weekend run that ends July 27, as reported by Mensjournal. The main stage is considered a centrepiece of the festival and typically reflects its yearly theme and this year, the theme is "The World of Orbyz," according to a Mensjournal report.A large fire broke out on the main stage on Wednesday, just days before the festival was set to begin, as per the festivalgoers hadn't arrived yet. Only workers, about 1,000 of them, were on site preparing for the event, as per the report.
Mint
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Tomorrowland stage burns to ground before festival opening - here's what happened
A massive fire destroyed Tomorrowland's main stage just 48 hours before the world-famous electronic music festival was set to open in Boom, Belgium. Dramatic videos showed flames consuming the elaborate "World of Orbyz"-themed structure as fireworks exploded within the blaze, though their connection to the cause remains unclear. Around 1,000 staff members were evacuated safely, with no injuries reported despite the stage being "completely destroyed" . Thick black smoke billowed over the town, prompting emergency warnings for residents to close windows and doors. Over 50 firefighters from Boom and neighboring Antwerp rushed to contain the inferno, preventing it from spreading to nearby woods. Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen confirmed safety as the top priority, coordinating with emergency crews as Boom's mayor, Jeroen Baert, cut short his German vacation to manage the crisis. Fire officials assured locals the smoke wasn't toxic, though structural damage appeared severe – social media images revealed only charred metal frames remained where the iconic stage once stood. This marks Tomorrowland's second major stage fire. In 2017, its Barcelona satellite event evacuated 22,000 people hours before Steve Aoki's set. Eyewitnesses suggested the latest blaze began during pyrotechnic tests on the stage's right side, though officials haven't confirmed a cause. The festival's resilience will be tested anew as crews assess whether rebuilding is possible before Friday's opening.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tomorrowland main stage gutted by fire, will the show in Belgium be cancelled?
A massive fire has engulfed the main stage of the Tomorrowland music festival site in Belgium's Boom, just two days before the event was set to begin. Firefighters are currently battling the blaze, which is yet to be brought under control. There were no festivalgoers present at the site during the fire. However, around 1,000 staff members were believed to be working in the area at the time. As per VRT News, the Belgian public broadcaster there are no confirmed reports of injuries so far. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category MCA Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence CXO Finance Data Analytics Project Management Data Science PGDM Leadership Cybersecurity Public Policy Operations Management healthcare MBA Technology Management Product Management others Others Healthcare Data Science Degree Digital Marketing Skills you'll gain: Programming Proficiency Data Handling & Analysis Cybersecurity Awareness & Skills Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Master of Computer Applications Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Video clips shared on social media showed flames erupting from the right side of the main stage. Thick black smoke was seen rising above the site, and fireworks were heard in the background. It remains unclear whether the fireworks were linked to the cause of the fire. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo Emergency services arrived quickly, and firefighters are continuing efforts to contain the blaze. Authorities have advised nearby residents to keep windows and doors shut as a precaution. Local officials say the smoke is not toxic. The mayor of Boom, Jeroen Baert, has cut short his holiday in Germany to return and manage the situation. Live Events #breaking !! #tomorrowland is on #fire right now — Javier Churich (@JaviChurich) July 16, 2025 Will Tomorrowland go ahead? Tomorrowland, one of the world's largest electronic dance music festivals, was scheduled to begin on Friday, July 18. Thousands of attendees travel from around the world to attend the event. Organizers said their top priority is the safety of workers and the surrounding community. A statement from the festival team reads: 'Our priority now is the safety of our visitors and those in the surrounding area.' However, there are no reports on its cancellation. Is the stage completely destroyed? Photos and videos show the stage structure heavily damaged, with only parts of the frame left standing. An X user posted that the whole stage has been destroyed. NO NO NO GOD PLS WHOLE STAGE IS GONE.. JUST LIKE THAT.. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THERE W2. I'M IN FULL PANIC MODE NOW — Samarth (@iamstake) July 16, 2025 The main stage, known for its grand design and central theme, was to feature 'The World of Orbyz' this year.
