Hundreds injured as boardwalk collapses during Spanish festival

An oceanside boardwalk collapsed during a night-time concert in the north-western Spanish city of Vigo, injuring 313 people – five of them seriously.

Many young people were on the port’s wooden boardwalk when it gave way around midnight on Sunday at the closing event of a three-day festival, officials said.

The wooden boards cracked along a central section, about 40m long.

People slid down into the sea below. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic.

The head of the Galician region’s health authority, Jesus Vazquez Almuina,said that 313 people required treatment.

The five people who were seriously hurt did not have life-threatening injuries.

Enrique Cesar Lopez Veiga, the president of the Vigo port authority, said he suspected there was a structural problem in the boardwalk, which is supported by concrete pillars.

He said the boardwalk collapsed “probably because of excessive weight” on it.

Vigo mayor Abel Caballero said there would be an investigation into the causes of the incident.

The annual festival features music and urban sports such as skateboarding.

According to eyewitnesses, the wooden platform gave way during the first song of the concert as Majorcan rap artist Rels B, who had just started his performance, told the crowd to jump.

Festival-goer Aitana Alonso told 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 paralysed and [then] I left.

“There was a girl with blood on her head.”

Mr Almuina said of the casualties: “These are provisional figures.

“Patients are still being evaluated ... the vast majority are light injuries for bruises.

“There are five hospitalisations, mainly broken bones and some head injuries.”

In a tweet sent in Spanish, Rels B wished “strength” to the injured.

He advised anyone worried about friends or relatives to contact an emergency information point set up by festival organisers.

O Marisquiño is a free festival taking place outdoors in Vigo every August and is attended by about 160,000 visitors.

The event features cultural activities, including concerts and gastronomy, and about ten sports competitions over a three-day period.