Tomorrowland music festival opens after its main stage was destroyed by a huge fire
Workers labored around the clock to clear out the debris from the elaborate backdrop that was consumed in Wednesday's fire.
Shouting ''We made it!'', the festival's opening performers, Australian electronic music group Nervo, were able to take to the main stage Friday after a last-minute scramble and slight delay. Some charred frames were still visible behind them.
No one was hurt in the fire, organizers said. The causes are being investigated.
Hundreds of thousands of people from around the world attend Tomorrowland's annual multi-day festival outside the Belgian town of Boom. Some 38,000 people were camping at the festival site Friday, Tomorrowland spokesperson Debby Wilmsen said.
''Maybe there are some few people that say, OK, we would like to have a refund, but it's only like a very small percentage because most of them are still coming to the festival,' she told AP.
'It is all about unity, and I think with a good vibe and a positive energy that our festival-goers give to each other and the music we offer, I think they will still have a good time,″ she said. ''We really tried our best.″
Australian fans Zak Hiscock and Brooke Antoniou — who traveled half the world to see the famed festival as part of a summer holiday in Europe — described hearing about the fire.
'We were sitting having dinner when we actually heard the news of the stage burning down. We were very devastated and shattered, quite upset because we travelled a long way,'' Hiscock said.
Ukrainian visitor Oleksandr Beshkynskyi shared their joy that the festival went ahead as planned.
''It's not just about the one DJ or two DJs you're looking to see, but about all the mood and about the dream being alive," Beshkynskyi said. ___
Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Catfish scam sees Belgian lose £26K and driving 500 miles across Europe to meet French model believing she was his 'future wife'
A Belgian man who drove almost 500 miles to meet his 'future wife' for the first time faced huge disappointment when he finally came face-to-face with the woman he'd fallen for online. In an Instagram video translated by the New York Post, a man named Michel revealed he drove 472 miles across the border to France to meet model and former beauty pageant contestant Sophie Vouzelaud, 38. The clip documented him arriving at Sophie's door - but instead of getting his fairytale ending, he was met by the model's actual husband, Fabien Boutamine. The Miss France 2007 runner-up, who is currently pregnant, denied knowing the stranger, prompting her shocked husband to say to him: 'Well, I'm the current one [her husband]. There's going to be a confrontation'. Michel claimed that he believed he was going to wed Sophie and that he had previously sent a whopping $35,000 (£26,000) to a woman who he believed to be the model. 'I have to film because there's a guy who just rang my doorbell, and he says "I'm the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud"', said Fabian. 'Well, I'm the current one. There's going to be a confrontation' he continued. It appears the reality of the situation then dawned on Michel - whose face was never revealed during the video - when he emotionally admitted that something wasn't quite right. 'I think she played a dirty trick on me' he added. Fabian appeared resigned to the fact that another potential suitor had been scammed online. 'My wife, no, it's the fake accounts, you have to be very careful' he warned the stranger. 'I'm sorry, sir, but the problem is that Sophie puts a lot of videos on [social media] networks to say to be careful not to get hurt'. The shock factor was ramped up a notch when Michel confessed he had wired $35,000 to the suspected imposter who alleged she was pregnant and had later lost her baby. Michel also brought out his phone which purported to prove text message exchanges between himself and the fake Sophie. The exchanges seemed to touch the expectant mother, who could be heard saying, 'this hurts my heart'. 'You must keep all the evidence and take it to the police' she added. Sophie, who boasts 296,000 followers, shared the bizarre video on her Instagram page along with a caption detailing how 'sorry' she felt for Michel. 'I feel so sorry for this man' she wrote. 'Watch out for fake accounts, I'm sharing this video to show you it's real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself'. The digital era has made it easier than ever for scammers to take advantage of unwitting victims. In May, a woman reached out for help after discovering her mother might be falling head over heels for a fake Owen Wilson. The unnamed woman shared her concerns on US forum Reddit, along with an alleged video of the Hollywood star, 56, telling her mum she is an 'amazing woman'. The poster said she tried to convince her mum that it was the workings of artificial intelligence after finding a 'plethora of red flags' such as the man mainly contacting her mother via WhatsApp voice calls. In the clip, the purported Wedding Crashers actor - who in real life was busy shooting his latest action thriller Runner in Australia - appeared to be the result of sophisticated computer graphics; most notably given away by static eye movements and a grainy facial complexion. The woman said her and her sister had tried tirelessly to inform their mother it was a grand 'scam' but lamented that 'she's just not hearing us'. After reading her plight, many users agreed that it was indeed a hoax, with one person shockingly advising the siblings to create their own AI Owen Wilson and siphon money from her to prove it. According to her mother, the odd pairing came about after a chance meeting at Yahtzee with some friends. Though the exact location was withheld, the poster said the man claimed to have mistaken her mother for someone he knew in 'real life' when he saw her at the dice game. She then explained that the two only spoke by WhatsApp, voice calls and FaceTime, which installed doubts over the genuinity of their relations. She concluded her post by asking fellow users for advice 'to definitively prove to her [mother] this is a scam'. One viewer immediately noticed the actor's 'robotic' nature, writing: 'Wow that's scary, you can tell the tone is off and robotic. Face also looks slightly different than Owen but wow that's crazy for someone who wouldn't know any better.' 'His nose and eyes are also... not human lol,' chimed another. 'Tell her to watch his nose lol,' said one person.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Robbie Williams shares devastating update on parents' health battle in emotional post
ROBBIE Williams has shared a heartbreaking update on his family's health battles – with his mum, dad and mother-in-law all currently battling illnesses. As the Something Beautiful icon, 51, continues his Britpop stadium tour, he has also been checking in and helping look after the family alongside wife, Ayda Field, 46. 7 7 7 7 His beloved mum, Janet, has dementia which has deteriorated her memory to the point that she struggles to recognise him, while his dad Pete – who he credits in his movie for his love of music and performance – has Parkinson's disease which leaves him unable to leave the house. On top of it all, Ayda's mother, Gwen, is battling cervical cancer, Lupus and Parkinson's at the same time. In a new post on Instagram, Robbie posted a long Q+A about himself and his family's situation - noting there were parts of the tour that he loved – crediting his band and support act Lottery Winners for bringing 'energy' he enjoys, as well as some of his more notable concerts so far. But then he added that he's been fighting off a bug across the past two weeks, and that life at home is incredibly tough. 'Things at home with my parents? VERY precarious right now,' he then wrote. 'It's real world stuff that deeply affects me and my wife. And if my wife is affected, you can bet I am. So the maths are: Virus + ill parents + stadium tour.' 'Every single moment of every single day is in preparation for those 2+ hours on stage. Outside of that? I have nothing',' he said. 'There is nothing to offer. I don't mind stating to those around me, I need protecting. And in return I protect them'. Despite this, he added a promise that he would be 'on top of his game' during the shows, though noted: 'Outside of that - I have nothing to offer or give, for the time being.' His brutally honest post comes after Robbie paid tribute to his family on stage during his tour, admitting on stage that his mum no longer knows who he is and he 'isn't ready for it'. He told the crowd: 'My mother has dementia and she doesn't know who I am anymore. She doesn't know where she is anymore. My dad has Parkinson's and he can't leave the house. 'He used to sing with me every night on stage, he would come out, steal the show and be charming and then wander backstage for a glass of red wine. Now he can't leave the house. 'My mother-in-law, who I absolutely worship and adore, has three illnesses. She's for lupus, Parkinson's and cancer. She is the most courageous lady and she is fighting, fighting, fighting.' He added: "It's a strange place to be, this place we find ourselves, 51 years old, it's very strange to be the grown up. "I'm not ready for it." 7 7
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Braless Eva Longoria, 50, stuns in a daringly plunging silk gown as she attends charity gala in Marbella
Eva Longoria looked nothing short of sensational as she attended the Global Gift charity gala in Marbella on Saturday evening. The Desperate Housewives actress , 50, went braless as she slipped into a daringly plunging yellow silk gown that hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure. Her gorgeous dress boasted a racy keyhole detail which she accessorised with a simple gold necklace and diamond earrings. Eva added extra height to her frame with a pair of perspex heels and slicked back her long brunette locks into a ponytail. In May the actress, who shares son Santiago, seven, with husband José Antonio, said she always thought she'd become a success in Hollywood. Eva has enjoyed a hugely successful career, starring in shows such as Only Murders in the Building, and Eva has now revealed that she never doubted her own talent. The actress told Byrdie: 'When I look at the longevity I've had in this industry, it makes sense to me'. 'Of course, I'm going to work as hard as I can at whatever I do, and it just happens to be in this industry. I knew I'd be successful because I was surrounded by successful women - my mother, sisters, and aunts were independent, strong, smart, and charitable. 'They were everything I wanted to be.' Eva's self-belief has helped her to navigate the pitfalls of Hollywood. She explained: 'I remember the first time I was on a billboard and somebody said to me, "Oh my god, who would have thought?" 'And I said, "Me. I thought it. I dreamt it." If you don't champion yourself, who else is going to? That unwavering belief in yourself will take you so far.' Despite this, Eva admits that her priorities have changed in recent years. The brunette beauty shared: 'When you're young, you should say yes to every opportunity, so you can decide what you want to do in life. 'Now that I'm 50, I'm prioritizing differently,' explained the close friend of ER star George Clooney. 'I'm curating my life to be very specific to what I want the next 50 years to look like. I'm spending more time with my family, working less, and doing more of what I love. 'Being financially secure helps with those decisions, but I feel I've worked hard enough to say 'no' now.' Eva has also confessed to becoming more health-conscious in recent years. The actress said: 'I don't mind ageing. I just want to age well. I'm grateful to be able to move my body and work out, hike up a mountain, and play with my son. I'm trying to be as mobile as possible for as long as possible.'
