A stage has collapsed in Bayfront Park during a sound check for this weekend's Ultra Music Festival, injuring several and sending police cruisers and ambulances swarming to the park. At least three people are en route to local hospitals, and several more are being treated at the scene, Gossip Extra reports. The Miami Herald says "up to four people have been critically injured."
There's no information yet about what caused the collapse, but high winds have been howling through Miami tonight.
See also:
- How Russell Faibisch Built Ultra Music Festival
Update: The Herald now reports lighting equipment fell during the setup. A source tells Riptide the stage's LED display fell onto the victims.
Update 2x: WSVN is reporting the main stage is closed until tomorrow morning, when Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors can take a better look. However, it seems Ultra 2013's kickoff tomorrow will go on as planned.
Update 3x: Ultra has released a statement. Read it after the jump.
Statement from Ultra about tonight's accident:
Today (Thursday, March 14) as preparations were being made for this weekend's Ultra Music Festival, a section of an LED screen fell and injured two workers. Fire Rescue was on site, so there was a rapid response. Festival organizers are working with, and supporting, authorities as they investigate the details behind the accident.
The accident apparently happened during a run-through of the sound systems before this weekend's massive EDM party draws tens of thousands to the area.
Downtown residents have been posting photos to Twitter of the darkened park full of ambulances, but it's tough to tell how large a portion of the stage has collapsed from the shots.
We'll update this post when Miami police have more information to release about the collapse. Here's @Jave305's shot in full:
Another shot:
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Update: The Herald is reporting a piece of lighting equipment fell during the soundcheck, hurting at least four people. "Up to two people" were in critical condition, the paper says.
A source emailed Riptide to say the "main LED walls have apparently collapsed" and several people were trapped underneath.
Update: Two workers were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center in serious condition, and another was taken in stable condition. A fourth worker was checked and released at the scene.
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