One individual died and dozens extra have been injured early Saturday as highly effective winds hit a music competition close to the Spanish resort of Valencia, inflicting the stage to partially collapse, medics mentioned.
The incident occurred shortly after 4 a.m. on the Medusa Circus of Insanity dance music competition on Cullera seaside, some 30 miles south of Valencia.
"At 4:18 am, a part of the stage at Medusa Pageant collapsed in Cullera resulting from a robust gust of wind," the 112 emergency companies mentioned on Twitter.
"One individual died and three have been critically damage with a number of accidents," it mentioned, indicating 14 others suffered mild accidents. The well being authorities later raised the toll to 40 injured.
Media studies mentioned a younger man in his early 20s died after being hit by elements of the stage because it collapsed on the occasion, which had been anticipated to attract some 320,000 festivalgoers.
Additionally they mentioned a number of the massive buildings making up the competition entrance additionally blew down.
Footage on social media confirmed highly effective winds sweeping via the venue, bushes and enormous buildings bending dangerously and particles flying in all places as folks fought to carry onto their tents and salvage their belongings.
Spain's AEMET climate service mentioned the Valencian coast had been hit in a single day by varied "heat downbursts", a climate occasion through which a robust downward present of air hits land then spreads out in all instructions.
"We're utterly devastated and appalled by what occurred final night time," the competition administration mentioned in an announcement on social media, conveying condolences to the victims and their household and pals.
It mentioned an "surprising and violent gale" had ravaged sure areas of the competition simply after 4 a.m., forcing the administration "to right away evacuate the live performance space to make sure the protection of the competition goers, workers and artists".
Valencia's regional chief Ximo Puig wrote on Twitter it was "a horrible accident that has shocked us all," providing his "deepest condolences to the household and pals of the younger man who died."