One person died and dozens were injured on Saturday August 13 after a gust of wind hit the Medusa Circus of Madness music festival in Cullera, near Valencia (Spain). The scene partially collapsed around 4 a.m., “due to a strong gust”explained the emergency services.
“One person died and three were seriously injured with multiple injuries”, they added, adding that 14 other people had been slightly injured. The health authorities then raised the toll to 40 injured. According to media reports, the victim, a young man in his twenties, died after being struck by elements from the stage which collapsed.
“Hot downbursts”
Footage circulating on social media shows powerful winds sweeping across the site, trees and tall structures leaning dangerously, and debris flying everywhere as people clung to their tents.
#medusa #medusafestival #medusafestival2022 pic.twitter.com/QZl7MEuDAd
— Jhony (@dracoelbraco) August 13, 2022
The Spanish meteorological service AEMET said (in Spanish) that the Valencian coast had been hit that night by several “hot downbursts”, a weather phenomenon in which a powerful downdraft hits the land and then spreads in all directions. The festival, which was expecting some 320,000 people, was evacuated for safety.
