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Tomorrowland: Organisers say festival will go ahead after main stage fire Tomorrowland organisers plan to build new stage after fire destroys original
(about 2 hours later)
Fire engulfs main stage of Tomorrowland music festivalFire engulfs main stage of Tomorrowland music festival
Tens of thousands of campers have arrived at Tomorrowland in Belgium, a day after a fire destroyed the festival's main stage. Tomorrowland festival in Belgium plans to build a new main stage in time for the start of this weekend's event, organisers have said a day after a fire completely destroyed the original platform.
Festival organisers have insisted that the event in the town of Boom, south of Antwerp, will continue without the stage, adding that they are "focused on finding solutions". Organisers say the festival, in the town of Boom, south of Antwerp, will begin two hours later than originally planned on Friday with or without a new stage.
Nobody was injured in Wednesday evening's blaze and experts are working to determine a cause. If they have not managed to secure a new stage then the event will open in a reduced capacity, with plans to fully open on Saturday.
The electronic dance music festival is due to start on Friday, with 400,000 people expected to attend over two weekends. Some 400,000 people are expected to attend the electronic dance music festival over two weekends, with tens of thousands having already arrived at the Dreamville campsite to stay overnight.
Hundreds of artists, including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies, Swedish House Mafia and Charlotte De Witte are expected to perform.Hundreds of artists, including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies, Swedish House Mafia and Charlotte De Witte are expected to perform.
The local fire service has declared the site safe and a decision will now be made about whether to demolish the structure before the festival begins on Friday. Nobody was injured in Wednesday evening's fire and experts are working to determine a cause. The local fire service has declared the site safe.
The campsite, known as DreamVille, has opened and so far organisers say this weekend's event will continue. At a press conference on Thursday evening, Tomorrowland spokeswoman Debby Wilmsen said they hoped a "nice, new stage" would be ready for Friday.
Bradley Cooper-Barnard drove from London with three other friends. If not, Dreamville and the festival grounds will function as two separate areas on Friday. Artists scheduled to perform the main stage will instead play on the Gathering Stage at the campsite.
"This is my fourth Tomorrowland and things definitely feel a little different," he told the BBC. People camping will also not be able to access the rest of the festival grounds in this scenario.
Bradley Cooper-Barnard drove from London to Belgium with three other friends.
"This is my fourth Tomorrowland and things definitely feel a little different," he told the BBC before the latest announcement.
"Dreamville itself feels very much subdued, there's a bit of a sombre feeling around. In all of my previous years by this time of the day people are partying and there's usually music everywhere - it's quite quiet but a good amount of people around," he said."Dreamville itself feels very much subdued, there's a bit of a sombre feeling around. In all of my previous years by this time of the day people are partying and there's usually music everywhere - it's quite quiet but a good amount of people around," he said.
"We've got our tents set up and we're going to have a great time come what may.""We've got our tents set up and we're going to have a great time come what may."
Bradley Cooper-Barnard and his friends are determined to enjoy the experienceBradley Cooper-Barnard and his friends are determined to enjoy the experience
In its latest post on Instagram on Thursday, Tomorrowland said: "It is impossible to put into words what we're feeling." In an Instagram on Thursday morning, Tomorrowland said: "It is impossible to put into words what we're feeling."
It added that the Orbyz main stage "wasn't just a stage... it was was living breathing world".It added that the Orbyz main stage "wasn't just a stage... it was was living breathing world".
Organisers said they had worked through the night to come up with solutions. A meeting was held with safety experts and members of local government on Thursday morning to discuss a contingency plan. Meetings were held on Thursday between festival organisers, safety experts and local government officials to discuss contingency plans.
The mayor of Rumst, just north of Boom, told local media that another meeting discussing more ideas for an alternative to the main stage would be held in the afternoon.
"Cancelling the festival completely is the last thing we want to do," Jurgen Callaerts said.
There are 14 other stages at the festival, all much smaller than the main stage.There are 14 other stages at the festival, all much smaller than the main stage.
Further details are expected to be released later on Thursday.
The fire started around 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Videos posted on social media showed thick grey smoke engulfing the stage.The fire started around 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Videos posted on social media showed thick grey smoke engulfing the stage.
Some residents were evacuated as firefighters worked to stop the flames from reaching neighbouring homes and woodland.Some residents were evacuated as firefighters worked to stop the flames from reaching neighbouring homes and woodland.
A police helicopter carrying water was also deployed to help extinguish the fire.A police helicopter carrying water was also deployed to help extinguish the fire.
One employee who had been working on the site described "an apocalyptic scene" as the fire broke out.One employee who had been working on the site described "an apocalyptic scene" as the fire broke out.
"We suddenly heard bangs and saw fire near the stage, a huge amount of fire," the unnamed individual told Het Nieuwsblad newspaper."We suddenly heard bangs and saw fire near the stage, a huge amount of fire," the unnamed individual told Het Nieuwsblad newspaper.
"We were just putting the finishing touches on it. One more day and it would be finished. Four weeks of work... gone in half an hour.""We were just putting the finishing touches on it. One more day and it would be finished. Four weeks of work... gone in half an hour."
Tomorrowland began in 2005 and has become the biggest electronic dance festival in the world, attracting music fans from every continent.Tomorrowland began in 2005 and has become the biggest electronic dance festival in the world, attracting music fans from every continent.