The metal gods, clearly angry at the folly of mere mortals, have rained down lightning strikes on a music festival in Germany, injuring dozens of people at Rock am Ring, held at a former airfield west of Frankfurt.
The event was put on hold after severe weather struck the site on Saturday, and more than 70 festival-goers were hospitalised thanks to the lightning. Tens of thousands more were advised by organisers to take shelter in tents and cars.
Festival organiser Marek Lieberberg blamed the “catastrophic weather situation” in Germany for the injuries, and rejected criticism that not enough was done to warn the crowd of the coming storm.
“It’s not about causing panic but giving people the feeling that someone is looking after them,” he said.
Rock am Ring is one of Germany’s most popular festivals, and this year, the line-up included Tenacious D, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Black Sabbath.
Germany, France and Belgium have been hit with severe rain and flooding in recent days, with the Seine reaching its highest level in three decades, and workers scrambling to secure artworks in nearby galleries and museums.
Update: The festival has since resumed, with around 90,000 still in attendance.
Source: The Guardian.
Photo: YouTube.
