Freak storm kills three concert goers

BRUSSELS (AP):

A storm swept through an open-air music festival in eastern Belgium yesterday, killing at least three people and injuring over 70 others, an official said.

Video from the site showed stage equipment dangling in high winds near the town of Hasselt, about 50 miles (80 kilometres) east of Brussels, as rain-soaked concert goers at the Pukkelpop music festival ran for cover.

More than 20 ambulances were dispatched to the festival ground outside of Hasselt, a small town in eastern Belgium.

Hugo Simons, Hasselt's head of emergency planning, told VRT radio that 11 people were severely injured while 60 sustained light injuries as a result of the storm.

Hilde Claes, Hasselt's mayor, said those injured were taken to several nearby hospitals. Some of those lightly injured were being treated at a local sports complex.

Chokri Mahassine, the organiser of the festival, said "we have for now put the festival on hold until we understand the situation completely".