A WOMAN has died at Tomorrowland hours after the festival opened following a devastating blaze.
The Canadian, 35, was among tens of thousands of revellers at the site in Boom, near Antwerp, Belgium, on the opening night.
AFPFestival goers gather before the burnt-out main stage[/caption]
A huge fire tore through the main stage – destroying the whole spectacular creationShutterstock Editorial
APThe dance music festival kicked off on Friday night despite the main stage burning down earlier in the week[/caption]
The public prosecutor’s office in Antwerp said they were looking into the death of a woman who had been at the festival.
She was reportedly rushed to hospital after falling unwell, where she tragically died.
Officials said they have not determined the cause of her death and have launched an investigation.
Festival spokesperson Debby Wilmsen said: “She received first aid and was then transferred to the University Hospital of Antwerp,” reports Brussels Morning.
Debby continued: “We were informed she passed away there. Our condolences go out to her family and friends.
“The Antwerp prosecutor’s office is investigating the cause of death and will update further on this matter.”
The dance music festival was rocked by a huge blaze which destroyed its main stage just two days before the start.
Dramatic footage showed a furnace engulfing the entire structure and thick clouds of black smoke billowing into the air.
A charred skeleton was all that remained after the blaze died down.
But organisers were determined that the festival would go ahead.
Some 400,000 people were expected at the electronic dance music festival over this weekend and next – and some of the world’s biggest DJs are on the line-up.
Tens of thousands arrived on Friday night for the opening ceremony, which was slightly delayed by the fallout from the fire.
The fire broke out around 6pm on Wednesday evening at Tomorrowland’s elaborate, ice-themed main stage.
Years of creativity and craftsmanship had gone into building the stage – which was set to host the likes of David Guetta and Swedish House Mafia.
Bosses were quick to confirm that Tomorrowland would ahead, with or without a main stage.
X/henri_luigiThe spectacular set piece which took around a year to design and create[/caption]
AFPTomorrowland is one of the largest festivals in Europe[/caption]
Amazingly, they managed to pull together a new main stage in time for Friday’s opening.
Workers cleared the debris from the fire and rapidly put together a new construction.
It is built from a DJ booth and a wall of LED panels, with the burned remains of the original stage visible alongside heavy machinery.
The replacement was reportedly built using pieces of stage from Metallica’s recent world tour.
The DJ Martin Garrix thanked the band in an Instagram post, shared alongside a photo with the band’s drummer Lars Ulrich.
He wrote: “I can not believe I’m actually typing this… but my set at Tomorrowland is still happening!”
“Massive love and a big shoutout to the incredible Tomorrowland team for pulling off miracles — and to Metallica for coming through with the new stage parts…”
Debby Wilmsen said after the fire: “Years of love and passion have gone into building that stage. Those teams are devastated.”
The exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
However, sources told Gazet van Antwerpen that it may have sparked while the main stage’s fireworks cannons were being tested.
What is Tomorrowland?
TOMORROW is a globally renowned electronic dance music festival held annually in Boom, Belgium.
It features performances by some of the world’s top DJs and artists, showcasing a wide range of electronic music.
The festival is famous for its elaborate stage designs, immersive experiences, and vibrant atmosphere.
Tomorrowland began in 2005 after being created by Belgian brothers Manu and Michiel Beers.
It has gone on to be one of Europe’s largest festivals, attracting around 400,000 guests from over 200 countries.
It also features DreamVille which is the festival’s glamorous camping arena.
Due to its popularity, Tomorrowland has even expanded to put on events across globe.
These include TomorrowWorld, Tomorrowland Brasil, and Tomorrowland Winter in the French Alps.
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