Medusa Festival Stage Collapses, Killing One, Injuring 17

A stage collapse at the Medusa Festival in Spain has resulted in one death and seventeen injuries.

CNN is reporting that the collapse was "due to a strong gust of wind". The disaster occurred in the early hours of the morning at the festival site in Cullera, near Valencia.  The Spanish Civil Guard told CNN that a 22-year-old man died as a result of the collapse, while three of the seventeen injured are considered to be in serious conditions. A spokesperson for the Guard provided further information on the collapse. 

"Due to a strong gust of wind, the main entrance and the main stage of the Medusa Festival in Cullera fell to the ground"

50'000 people were believed to be on the festival site at the time of the collapse, which occurred while DJ Miguel Serna was onstage performing his scheduled set, with evacuation from the grounds said to take 40 minutes. 

Medusa Festival organisers have posted a statement on Facebook, with the translated text reading. 

“It is a very painful moment. Difficult and heartbreaking. A tremendously sad and discouraging moment for relatives, friends. A moment no one should ever know. It is also the hardest moment that all of us who make up Medusa Festival ever think of going through. We remain devastated. Broken inside. So much so that almost no words come out.” 

“Our thoughts continually occupy each and every one of those affected, directly and indirectly, by the unfortunate, unexpected and unavoidable accident that has occurred tonight due to the extreme and unpredictable inclement weather during the celebration of the Medusa Festival. Our audience is important. They have placed their trust in us and have been the fundamental pillar for us to continue here today. The safety of those attending our event has always been an absolute priority for us. Also workers and artists. We believe that all of you who know us know that the main thing is to protect you all in each of our events.”

“For this reason, and because that continues to be our maxim, the Medusa Festival organization has made the decision to definitively cancel our festival,” it concludes. “The adverse and unexpected weather conditions that are expected to continue throughout the day oblige us morally and out of responsibility to put an end to our 2022 edition. It is a day of mourning. And respect for those affected. … Again, we express our deep and sincere condolences. Thank you all for your understanding.”

The EDM-centric festival featured the likes of Steve Aoki, David Guetta, Amelie Lens and Carl Cox. 

The Spanish Civil Guard are in charge of handling the ongoing investigation.