Tens of thousands of campers have descended upon Tomorrowland in Boom, Belgium, just a day following a destructive blaze that engulfed the festival's main stage. In a statement, festival organizers reassured that the event will go on as scheduled, stating "we are focused on finding solutions" in the wake of this unexpected incident. Thankfully, no injuries were reported from the fire that erupted on Wednesday evening, and investigations are currently underway to determine its cause.
The highly anticipated electronic dance music festival is set to commence on Friday, attracting approximately 400,000 attendees across two weekends. The lineup boasts a star-studded roster, including notable acts like David Guetta, Lost Frequencies, Swedish House Mafia, and Charlotte De Witte. Local fire officials have confirmed the safety of the festival site, and discussions are ongoing regarding the potential demolition of the damaged structure prior to the festival's start.
The campsite, DreamVille, has officially opened its gates, and thus far, organizers are optimistic about proceeding with the weekend’s events. In a heartfelt message shared on Instagram, Tomorrowland expressed their sentiment about the tragedy, characterizing the Orbyz main stage as "a living breathing world."
Late Thursday morning, discussions were held with safety experts and local government representatives to devise contingency plans. Jurgen Callaerts, the mayor of neighboring Rumst, emphasized that cancellation is the least desirable option. He mentioned that additional meetings would take place later in the day to explore alternative solutions for the main stage. Notably, Tomorrowland boasts 14 other stages, although they are all significantly smaller than the iconic main stage.
Witnesses recount the chaotic scene as the fire broke out at approximately 18:00 local time on Wednesday. Social media footage captured the thick plumes of smoke billowing above the stage. Amidst the chaos, some residents were evacuated as firefighters swiftly worked to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby homes and forests. An employee on site described the scene as "apocalyptic," recalling the sudden sounds of explosions accompanied by massive flames shortly before the festival was set to open.
Initially launched in 2005, Tomorrowland has since grown to become the largest electronic dance festival globally, drawing in music enthusiasts from around the world.
