Tomorrowland isn’t out of the woods just yet. Belgian authorities are investigating to determine if any negligence resulted in this year’s Mainstage fire.
The Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating whether Boom, Belgium festival Tomorrowland‘s Mainstage fire can be connected to any violations of safety protocol, if a reportedly leaked email holds any validity.
Flemish broadcaster VRT claims to have reviewed the email allegedly sent to the Prosecutor’s Office by the Belgian Ministry of Economy to determine that the latter has launched an inquiry. It is looking into three potential breaches, namely whether pyrotechnic devices were brought on site too early, unauthorized people had access to the fireworks, or required written notification of their timely delivery and installation was submitted to the FPS Security Control Service.
Investigators have yet to uncover any concrete evidence proving that such oversights took place, according to VRT. Tomorrowland’s organizers have said that they were previously unaware of the alleged inquiry.
“Given that we have not been officially informed about this and that an investigation is currently being conducted by the Ministry of Economy, we feel it is appropriate not to make any public statement,” said a spokesperson on behalf of Tomorrowland. This year’s edition kept the festival brand’s PR team working in overtime — not only to share contingency plans in the wake of the fire, but also to address a fatality as well as more than one politically charged controversy.
Tomorrowland’s debut took place in 2005, drawing 10,000 attendees for a single-day festival. It now stands as one of the biggest gatherings of its kind in the world, typically boasting attendance of more than 400,000 across two weekends with more than 600 artists spread out over 16 stages.
Previously, Tomorrowland shared that they strictly follow all regulations pertaining to fireworks and only work with vetted suppliers. The festival brand also announced that it had launched its own investigation into the cause of the fire.