Tragedy at Czech festival: 12 injured as tent collapses in storm
Dramatic scenes unfolded in the Czech town of Jihlava following the Saturday concert at the Vysocina Fest festival. At least 12 people were injured, with three of them sustaining severe injuries.
The incident occurred when crowds gathered at the exit of the inflatable tent after the concert, which started collapsing under the heavy rain. Local police provided this information on Sunday.
As a result of the incident, several people were transported to a hospital in Jihlava, located in the south of the Czech Republic. Fortunately, most of the injuries were minor. Three individuals with the most severe injuries were taken to the intensive care unit, with two remaining there. One person has a punctured lung, as reported by the festival spokeswoman to the CTK agency.
What happened at the festival?
The police are investigating to determine precisely what transpired at the festival. Preliminary information suggests that the organisers shortened the last concert because weather forecasts predicted storms and rain.
The final performance ended before midnight; however, it was already raining, and many festival-goers sought shelter from the downpour in the sizeable inflatable tent. Based on eyewitness accounts, Czech television reported that the compressors pumping air into the tent during the storm ceased working.
The heavy rain weighed down the tent roof, causing it to sag. When this happened, the organisers asked the attendees to exit. Panic ensued, with people pushing and trampling.
The local fire brigade reported that, apart from the panic at the festival, the storms did not cause any other severe problems in the region.
