In the early evening Wednesday, around 6 p.m., an impressive fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site in Boom, near Antwerp. The fire, whose origin is still unknown, has entirely destroyed the main scene of the festival, famous for its monumental and immersive decor. No one injured is to be deplored.
Around 12 noon this Friday, the organization of Tomorrowland published the long -awaited announcement: “Dear citizens of tomorrow, we are ready for you! », Can we read on the festival website. The new main scene will be ready for 4 p.m., two hours after the festival opened. “An alternative configuration for the main beloved scene should open at 4:00 p.m., depending on the last-minute changes. All artists will perform as planned on the other scenes from 2:00 pm, ”says the organization.
A race against the clock during the night
The firefighters intervened quickly and watered the site a good part of the night. “The materials used are flammable materials, which are also used daily at home,” said François Van den Eynde, commander of the Rivierland firefighter area. “And then there is also the exhibition in the wind of the scene. The way it is built makes it completely exposed to the wind at the back. This is why everything happened very quickly, and that it quickly worsened. »»
A new scene sent during the night from Thursday to Friday
On images shared by our colleagues from HLN, a new scene would have been sent to the Tomorrowland site late yesterday, and during the night from Thursday to Friday. Workers must set up the building of 8 meters high and 70 meters wide During the night and the start of the day this Friday.
The scene will therefore not be as grandiose as the one who left for smoke, but should remain impressive. Above all, it would allow you to stick to the plan has organizers, a complete opening of the festival on Friday at 2 p.m.
We build a whole new scene
If some online speculate on the scene that will be built, evoking the possibility of reusing an old scene, the spokesperson for Tomorrowland formally denies: “We are building a whole new scene,” says Debby Wilmsen, spokesperson for the festival.
The festival maintained, but redesigned
As of Wednesday evening, the organizers confirmed that the festival would be maintained, despite the extent of the damage. Debby Wilmsen, spokesperson for Tomorrowland, said: “We have this morning reinforced this morning. We have developed all possible means, we called on experts and we continue. We are organizing this festival, we continue 100 %. »»
Two scenarios are currently being considered. The most optimistic provides for an opening of the festival on Friday at 2 p.m., instead of noon initially planned. A new podium would be installed there to replace the destroyed scene. “Everyone is welcome, all visitors for a day, all those who come on the three days, all the people who sleep at the hotel,” said the spokesperson.
Plan B, if the main substitution scene cannot be installed in time, is a complete opening on Saturday. Festival-goers will still be able to take advantage of all the other scenes from the site from Friday, while ticket holders for the “Dreamville” campsite are right (in this case) to a second exclusive session on Friday on the campsite. All the artists scheduled for Friday on the main scene would then migrate to the Dreamville site.
An express reorganization
Thursday was marked by an intense mobilization, between technical expertise, crisis meetings and coordination between the organizers, local authorities, firefighters and rescue services. The objective was clear: to find a viable solution not to cancel the event, which welcomes nearly 200,000 festival-goers from around the world every weekend.
It was hard to see Tomorrowland, who is a very heavy financial organization, with an international expertise and reputation, send 200,000 people home. The 20 -year -old festival teams have activated pre -existing emergency plans to meet such a situation.
An investigation still in progress
Regarding the causes of the fire, no official hypothesis has yet been confirmed. Explosions of fireworks were heard during the fire, which could constitute a track, but a judicial investigation is underway. An expert was appointed to determine the origin of the disaster.
The central part of the main scene, deemed stable, should be preserved, while the damaged side elements are being demolished.
Despite the shock and emotion, Tomorrowland is therefore preparing to take up an immense logistical challenge to ensure that the party takes place. The message is clear: show must go on.
