The Marseille fire department says a stage being built for a Madonna concert in the French port city has collapsed, leaving one dead and six injured.

The fire department says the stage at the Stade Velodrome stadium fell apart on top of several workers Thursday. The six injured were taken to local hospitals. Details of their injuries and the identity of the dead worker were not immediately released.


The cause of the stage collapse was not clear. The area was barricaded after the accident.


Madonna is scheduled to perform in Marseille on Sunday.


From The Associated Press


Update: The mayor of Marseille has decided to cancel the concert.
[Edited 7/16/09 9:58am]
[Edited 7/17/09 14:37pm]

wow

Wow, that's very sad. My prayers go out to the family.

Madge had issue with the stage in LA.

A stage being constructed for a Madonna concert has collapsed, killing one person and injuring six others - including one Briton.

Technicians were setting up the stage at the Velodrome stadium in the southern French city of Marseille when the roof of the stage collapsed at around 5.15pm.

The disaster led to the immediate cancellation of Sunday’s planned sell out performance by the 50-year-old star.

The dead man, a 53-year-old French stage hand who has not been identified, is believed to have been hit by lighting and emblems due to be suspended above the temporary stage.

Two people, one British and one American, were severely injured in the accident, and are now in a critical condition.

Four were lightly injured by rubble; they are believed to have fractured bones in the accident.

'At this point we don't know how it happened, but we are confident no one else is still under the rubble,' said fire officer David Goddin.

Jose Allegrini, in charge of security, said three French and a person from the Cormoros Islands were also among the injured.

Some 39 others were in a ‘state of some shock’ and were receiving psychological treatment for trauma, Mr Allegrini added.

A stadium spokesman said: ‘The accident happened soon after 5pm when a stage was being put up for Madonna by a number of technicians.

‘A roof collapsed on to a group of stage hands, causing the death and the other injuries. Two survivors are in particularly bad way. The emergency services are at the scene.

‘In light of what has happened, the sell-out concert has been cancelled.’
Maurice Di Nocera, Marseille city councilor in charge of major events, said on France-Info radio that the roof had been about two-thirds complete and that it collapsed gradually on top of several workers.

'Since it did not collapse right away, that allowed several people to get out, to avoid being hit,' he said.

The 60,000-seater stadium, home to the Olympique Marseille soccer team, was being prepared for Madonna's July 19 concert when it collapsed.

The fire department says the stage fell apart on top of several workers. The six injured have been taken to local hospitals after about 27 fire engines and 80 firefighters responded to the emergency.

The cause of the stage collapse is not yet clear and the area has been barricaded by police.

Another stadium worker said the set had ‘cost many hundreds of thousands’, adding: ‘It was extremely sophisticated, with masses of lightening and scenery. The technicians knew what they were doing, but there was a terrible accident.’

Marseilles Public Prosecutor Jacques Dallest said a police enquiry had been opened.

Last weekend Madonna, who is based in London, played in front of a 15,000 crowd in Paris as part of her ‘Sticky and Sweet’ world tour. She was not thought to be in Paris this evening.

Tickets for the concert had been exchanging hands on the black market for up to £400


it was the second of three stage Madge tours with there is a show scheduled tonight in Italy.
[Edited 7/16/09 11:57am]

(CNN) -- Madonna was "devastated" to hear that a man was killed in an accident during construction for her upcoming concerts in Marseilles, France, a representative said Thursday.
A 53-year-old French man was killed when a stage being built for the concert collapsed, a fire department spokesman in the southern French city said.

Another two people, one British and one American, are severely injured, and four are lightly injured, officer David Goddin told CNN.

"At this point we don't know how it happened, but we are confident no one else is still under the rubble," Goddin said.

"My prayers go out to those who were injured and their families along with my deepest sympathy to all those affected by this heartbreaking news," Madonna said in a statement issued by her representative, Liz Rosenberg.

About 27 fire engines and 80 firefighters responded to the emergency when the stage collapsed at 5:15 p.m. (1515 GMT).

"There were a lot of open fractures, of injuries, it was a messy sight," one of the rescue workers told Agence-France Presse.

Marseilles Deputy Mayor Richard Miron told CNN affiliate BFM TV the concert has been canceled, but Rosenberg's office declined to confirm that.

Madonna had been due to play five concerts at the Stade Velodrome as part of her "Sticky and Sweet" tour.

somebody gonna get sued big time.

DesireeNevermind said:

the tour is insured for such things.

ehuffnsd said:

right, also she has enough stages.

graecophilos said:

3. this may cause some scheduling delays, she has one up, one being built, and oen being taken down.

Ambulances leave the Stade Velodrome stadium in Marseille, southern France, Thursday July 16, 2009.

A stage being built for a Madonna concert at the stadium collapsed Thursday, falling apart on top of several workers, leaving one dead and six injured, the fire department said. Madonna's "Sticky & Sweet" tour was to arrive in Marseille on Sunday, but the concert is now canceled because because of the accident and damage. (AP Photo/Claude Paris)




The Marseille Velodrome stadium where the tragedy occurred.

Damn thats messed up but I never knew she had three stages but it kind of makes sense because when she visited my area they were setting up Sunday but the show wasn't until the following Thursday...

video/;

NOT of the actual accident. just news report.



video
http://www.tmz.com/videos...bdf5f14c0d

damn

and when i read the title i thought Madonna had died
[Edited 7/16/09 14:09pm]

ABeautifulOne said:

it takes 2 days to put together and another day to take apart.

ehuffnsd said:

oh well you learn something new everyday.

okay, Madonna has said in her concert that no t's two people who died.

Thats terrible. Im sorry to hear.

graecophilos said:

?

ehuffnsd said:

ehuffnsd said:

co-?

DesireeNevermind said:

i just missed a fucking w and i and you pretend not to understand my post.

Marseille firefighters sift the through the wreckage of a collapsed stage that was being built for a Madonna concert Thursday.

2nd Death After Stage Collapse For Madonna Show
July 17, 2009


The Marseille hospital authority says a second person has died after the roof of a stage being built for a Madonna concert collapsed.

The hospital authority says the British worker died Friday from injuries suffered in the accident.

A French worker was killed immediately when the roof fell apart on top of several workers Thursday.

Eight others were injured, including an American who is in serious condition.

None of the victims' identities has been released.

Madonna canceled her scheduled performance Sunday in this Mediterranean port city after the accident.

The cause of the roof collapse was not clear. Police say a faulty power winch may have played a role.


http://www.google.com/hos...wD99G2IAO0

Copycat said:

Madonna named the two. Basically, both of them were called Charlie.

graecophilos said:

No ones pretending anything. No and now make a big difference to a sentence. I was another one who did not understand at all what you meant.

I did 2 months of stagebuilding then I said fuck it..to dangerous.
I loved working outside and lifting shit but I stopped when a stairway fell on me.
Almost slipped off a 30 meter stage in the rain and dropped a piece of metal 5 meters down but thank god nobody was there.
Also saw a rigger drop dead at a prince concert in Rotterdam.

Some of these guys work 20 hours non stop and alot of boose and dope goin round too.

Apart from consoling words...what is she actually going to do to to recompense those that died?


Considering the woman should have never been near a stage her whole life.


Please don't confuse 'sleeping your way to the top' with longevity... or 'trying hard' with talent.