Paramedics attend a performer injured when a huge video panel fell on the stage during a concert by popular Hong Kong boyband Mirror on July 28, 2022. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – A huge video panel fell on the stage during a concert by popular Hong Kong boyband Mirror on Thursday, crushing one performer and trapping others, prompting a government investigation and the suspension of future shows.
At least two dancers were injured, with one in a serious condition and the other stable, local broadcaster RTHK reported.
Three members of the audience were also injured, local media reported, with many fans emotional after the harrowing scenes.
"I am shocked by the incident. I express sympathy to those who were injured and hope that they would recover soon," Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Friday.
He ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident and a review of the safety requirements of similar performance activities in order to protect the safety of performers, working staff and members of the public.
I am shocked by the incident. I express sympathy to those who were injured and hope that they would recover soon.
John Lee, Chief Executive, HKSAR
Expressing grave concern over the incident, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung asked the Leisure and Cultural Services Department to set up a task force to be led by an assistant director to work with the Labour Department and relevant parties to investigate the cause of the accident and to follow up on it.
“In view of the accident, the government has already instructed the concert to be suspended until the structure of the stage is proved to be safe,” he said in a statement on Friday.
The government's leisure bureau had already contacted the concert organiser about other stage incidents in recent days and asked them to review and improve on the situation, according to Yeung.
The hugely popular cantopop group was formed in 2018 through a reality television show and had planned a series of 12 shows at Hong Kong's Coliseum, next to the city's Victoria Harbour.
More than 13,000 Mirror fans signed an online petition asking the concert organiser to resolve the problems and ensure safety for all performers, according to the petition's website.
Rescuers and paramedics attend injured performers after a video screen fell during a concert by popular Hong Kong boyband Mirror on July 28, 2022. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Security personnel ask the audience to leave after a huge video panel fell on the stage and injured performers during a concert by popular Hong Kong boyband Mirror on July 28, 2022. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
The audience look on as paramedics attend performer injured when a huge video panel fell on the stage during a concert by popular Hong Kong boyband Mirror on July 28, 2022. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
MakerVille, the concert organiser which is owned by Hong Kong tycoon Richard Li's PCCW Media Group, said it was thoroughly investigating the cause of the accident.
"We are deeply sorry that the incident caused unease to viewers or others affected."