Updated | Five confirmed dead in Belgian Pukkelpop festival stage collapse

13:02 A spokesperson for the Maltese consulate in Belgium told MaltaToday that following a press conference held by the authorities, it is confirmed that five people died in the accident, all of Belgian nationality.

He said that 10 more are gravely injured, two of which are of Dutch nationality. He added that 120 more were lightly injured, and adding that so far, no Maltese seem to be involved in the incident, and reiterated that the Maltese consulate received no calls for assistance.

10:19 Contacted by MaltaToday, a spokesperson for the Maltese consulate in Belgium said that so far no requests from assistance from Maltese involved in the incident have come through to the consulate.

He added that a press conference would be held later on during the day and more information would be forthcoming.

Earlier: Television pictures from the scene, about 65km (40 miles) east of Brussels, showed fallen stage rigging and people scrambling for cover.

Initial reports in the Belgian media said four people had been killed.

About 60,000 people were believed to be at the event, one of Europe's largest outdoor festivals.

The mayor of the town of Hasselt, where Pukkelpop is held, said 40 people were injured, AP news agency reported.

The TV images showed rain-soaked festival-goers bracing against strong winds. Fallen gantries and rigging could be seen on the ground.

Belgian media reported that trees were uprooted by the violent storm and smashed into the stage, bringing it down.

Some festival-goers said on the Twitter website that a tornado had struck.

Bands have already started expressing support for those who either perished or were injured in the collapse.

Five people were killed last week at a festival in the US state of Indiana when a stage collapsed in high winds.

Last year, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool frontman Charles Haddon is believed to have committed suicide after his band’s performance at the 2010 Pukkelpop festival