Pohoda cancels after 29 injured in extreme weather

Slovakia’s Pohoda has been brought to a premature end after one of its large tents collapsed due to a severe storm, injuring 29 festivalgoers.

The 30,000-cap 2024 edition was set to run at Trenčín airport from 11-13 July, but was suspended at 8pm on Friday before the decision was made to cancel the remainder of the event.

Spectator reports that dozens of people were inside the tent at the time of the collapse. Police are investigating the incident.

“Twenty-eight injuries were minor, mostly lacerations, and one injury was of moderate severity, involving a hip fracture,” says the festival’s chief physician Jaroslav Vidan, who adds that all casualties were taken to hospital.

Artists booked for the event included Peggy Gou, James Blake, Skepta, Pendulum, Black Pumas, Thievery Corporation, Arlo Parks, Ezra Collective and Nia Archives, while scheduled Friday night performances by Royal Blood and Morcheeba were called off because of the adverse conditions.

“We expect to be able to provide information shortly about the extreme weather that affected our festival and the consequences it had on the festival structures”

“After careful consideration of the time constraints for inspecting the safety of the festival structures, we have decided that we must cancel Pohoda 2024,” organisers posted on social media on Saturday. “Based on the available information, inspecting all the structures could not be completed in less than 24 hours, which makes it impossible to continue with the festival programme.

“The safety of our guests is our priority, and therefore we believe that our decision, made with great regret, will be understood by everyone. We expect to be able to provide information shortly about the extreme weather that affected our festival and the consequences it had on the festival structures.”

Evacuation buses were arranged to transport people from the site.

“We would like to thank SAD Trenčín, Slovak Lines, Railways of the Slovak Republic, and Slovenská Sporiteľňa for organising special transport during the evacuation,” say organisers in a message to attendees. “We would also like to thank all our suppliers, partners, artists, non-profit organisations and catering teams for their understanding and various forms of assistance in dealing with the situation.

“We will keep you updated on the next steps and the overall future of our festival”

“Due to the immense effort, dedication and support, the impact of Friday’s extreme storm has been minimised. Our thoughts are with all those injured and we wish them a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are also with all those who have been affected in any way. For those travelling home, we wish you a safe return. We miss you all greatly, but you have left behind a sense of hope.

“We are now focusing on the aftermath of the event and will be staying at Trenčín Airport for many days to pack up the prematurely ended Pohoda 2024. We will keep you updated on the next steps and the overall future of our festival.”

The independent music and arts festival was launched in 1997 and has featured acts such as Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Pulp, Kraftwerk, The xx, Liam Gallagher, Wolf Alice, The Chemical Brothers, PJ Harvey, The Prodigy, M.I.A. and The Libertines.

Previously, two people were killed and dozens injured after a stage tent collapsed on them during a rainstorm at the 2009 festival.

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