Pier collapse at Spain's Vigo concert: 300 people injured

A pier collapsed in the city of Vigo, in northwestern Spain, during a music concert injuring at least 300 people.

Eyewitnesses report that the wooden platform gave way during the first song of the performer Rels B, who asked the audience to jump. It was around midnight when the incident occurred throwing people into the water. Fortunately, rescue divers, who searched the area meticulously, reported no fatalities. However, 300 people were injured, 5 of them hospitalized in serious condition.

The concert was part of Marisquiño event, a free festival taking place outdoors in Vigo, attended by approximately 160,000 visitors. Various cultural activities such as concerts, gastronomy and sport competitions were featured over a three-day period.

According to Enrique López Veiga, president of Vigo port authority, the collapse of the pier's central section (which had a length of about 40 meters) occurred "either because of excess weight or jumping by the audience." Aitana Alonso, who attended the concert, describes the moment of the collapse on a local newspaper: "The floor [of the platform] dropped like a lift. It was a matter of five seconds. It broke and we all fell. People fell on me. I had trouble getting out. I was trying to get out and skidded, my foot got stuck, in the water. I got it out. A boy gave me his hand and I got out. I felt paralyzed and [then] I left. There was a girl with blood on her head."

Still, the factors of the collapse have not been verified. It should be examined whether the failure occurred due to heavy weight or because the structure was itself weak. Abel Caballero, the major of the city, confirmed that an investigation into the causes of the incident will begin as soon as possible.