The Sonisphere producers have just posted the following update to their Facebook page:
“We have just received news that the 50-year old male that was critically injured during the freak storm at Sonisphere Finland has passed away. We are obviously shocked and devastated and would like to offer our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the victim – the thoughts of Team Sonisphere, Iron Maiden and all Sonisphere Fans are with you.”
On Monday, Finland’s national paper, the Helsingin Sanomat, reported that injuries at the music festival were caused by equipment and structures blowing from the stage and flying into the crowd. Four of the approximately 40 people who were injured were hospitalized, and two were reported to be in critical condition, although they were listed in stable condition the day after the event.
While we await for more details to be released, it is not yet known if the 50-year old was a fan or a worker at the festival; various reports indicated that some of the stage crew had been banged up as a result of the storm.
The powerful storm, known as a super-cell, can produce high winds, torrential rain and large hailstones and can often lead to the formation of tornadoes. Super-cells are highly organized thunderstorms, have the potential to be the most severe and are the least common.
Freak storm hits Sonisphere Festival
Sonisphere Festival – Pori, Finland – August 8, 2010
