One Dead And Several Injured At Linkin Park Gig
One death has been confirmed, as well as several injuries, at the site of a Linkin Park concert that took place in Cape Town on Wednesday when advertising scaffolding collapsed due to strong winds. The scaffolding had collapsed before the band had started playing. The show had then gone on as scheduled, after local authorities had considered the area secure.
Cape Town authorities have issued a statement: “The City of Cape Town and Big Concerts confirm that twenty concert attendees were injured at the Cape Town Stadium this evening when a temporary scaffolding structure in the Stadium precinct collapsed due to high winds.
The City’s Emergency Services, including doctors, paramedics and Disaster Risk Management staff assisted immediately. The injured were treated on scene and have been taken to nearby hospitals for further medical attention.
The incident occurred when high wind speeds caused the collapse of a temporary scaffolding structure. The temporary structure was a branding activation, located adjacent to the Stadium forecourt on the Cape Town CBD side of the venue.
The structure had been pre-approved and certified safe, by structural engineers prior to the event. The remainder of the structure was dismantled and the commanding officer at the Venue Operations Centre declared the event site safe shortly afterwards. The Stadium gates were re-opened to concert attendees. The concert is going ahead as planned. All necessary support is being provided to those injured.”
Linkin Park also released statement of their own:
“Following our performance tonight at Cape Town Stadium, we were advised that several people were injured as a result of the collapse of an advertising tower erected by Lucozade in the parking area outside the venue.
We wish to express our deep sadness and concern for those injured and our heartfelt condolences to the family of the fan who died as a result of her injuries.
Though we have had no relationship with the sponsor or the entity responsible for erecting the structure, we take the safety of our fans very seriously and our thoughts are with all of those who were affected by this tragedy.”