They said the disaster struck at the Medusa Festival in the town of Cullera near Valencia at 4:18 a.m. local time “due to a strong wind”.
The man who died was 22 years old, the Spanish Civil Guard told CNN.
The Civil Guard, Spain’s paramilitary police unit in charge of the investigation, also said there was more damage than just a partial collapse of the stage.
“Due to strong winds, the main entrance and main stage of the Medusa Festival in Cullera fell to the ground,” a spokesperson in Valencia told CNN.
There were about 50,000 people at the festival site when the incident happened, it said, adding that it took 40 minutes to evacuate everyone from the festival, with exits functioning normally.
Ximo Puig, president of the Valencia regional government, offered condolences to the family and friends of the victim in a tweet Saturday.
“A terrible accident has shocked us all. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the young man who passed away early this morning at the Medusa Festival in Cullera,” Puig said. .
Early Saturday morning, festival management announced on Instagram that it was suspending the festival “due to inclement weather … for the purpose of ensuring the security of concertgoers, workers and artists.” gathered at the Medusa Festival.
The following Saturday, organizers officially canceled the festival, saying that “unexpected and adverse weather conditions expected to continue during the day force us morally and responsibly to terminate our 2022 edition.”
“It is a day of mourning. And respect for those affected,” the organizers said in a statement posted on social media, adding: “We are constantly thinking. for each of those affected, directly or indirectly, by the unfortunate, unexpected and inevitable accidents.”
Videos posted on social media early Saturday showed strong winds and structures falling from the stage as large crowds of festivalgoers were evacuated.
The Valencia department of Spain’s national weather service (AEMET) said on Twitter that the warm winds were creating very strong winds and a sudden rise in temperatures.
Around 3 am local time, the temperature is 40.5 degrees Celsius. .
