Giant screen at Hong Kong boyband Mirror's concert drops on two dancers; one in ICU
Two dancers injured, one in serious condition
HONG KONG (AFP) - Hong Kong authorities will investigate why a large, heavy video screen fell from the ceiling during a concert by popular boy band Mirror at a government-managed venue, injuring two dancers, officials said on Friday (July 29).
The accident happened during a performance on Thursday night by the 12-member band in the Chinese territory whose popularity has grown during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to preliminary findings released on Friday, one of two metal cords suspending the massive screen had snapped.
The South China Morning Post newspaper later reported that one of the two male dancers had suffered neck injuries and was in intensive care. It said the other was in stable condition.
Parents of the dancer in intensive care will reportedly travel back to Hong Kong from Canada on Saturday, according to Crossroad Community Baptist Church, which urged the public to pray for the dancer.
Footage of the incident circulated online showed a group of white-clad dancers performing onstage at the Hong Kong Coliseum when a giant overhead video screen fell and crushed a man.
The screen then toppled onto at least one other person before the remaining performers rushed to help.
Mirror's manager Ahfa Wong later took to the stage to apologise and asked the audience to leave, according to video clips circulated online.
Two male dancers were taken to the city's Queen Elizabeth Hospital while conscious shortly after 10.30pm local time (10.30pm Singapore time), police told AFP.
The Hong Kong government has halted Mirror concerts until the stage's structure is proven to be safe, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung said in a late-night statement.
Mr John Lee, Hong Kong's chief executive, said in a statement on early Friday that he had asked the leisure department and other agencies to investigate the accident and "review the safety requirements of similar performance activities".
"I am shocked by the incident," Mr Lee said. "I express sympathy to those who were injured and hope that they would recover soon."
Over the past year, Mirror have emerged as the most popular Cantonese pop act and are credited with revitalising Hong Kong's local music scene.
The 12-piece's latest concert series, originally scheduled to run from July 25 to Aug 6 at the prestigious Coliseum, was eagerly anticipated by fans and tickets were quickly snapped up.
But the shows have been plagued by technical faults since debuting on Monday, leading fans to question whether they are safe. More than 10,000 signed a petition urging organisers to take better care of performers.
On Tuesday night one Mirror member, Frankie Chan, fell about a metre off the edge of the stage, though he later said on social media that he only bruised his left arm, according to the South China Morning Post.
A live show by Hong Kong boy band Mirror was cut short on Thursday after a screen fell from height on the stage. It hit dancers below, according to footage shared across social media.
— Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) July 28, 2022
Local media reported that at least two were injured. pic.twitter.com/RnCTFc60Ie
Other fan-filmed clips of the concert showed walkways wobbling under the weight of performers and some stars missing their steps in the dimly lit space.
Even before Thursday, government officials had already contacted the concert organisers regarding "stage incidents" and demanded improvements, according to a government press release.
Photos of the aftermath of Thursday's incident showed police, paramedics and production crew on stage.
Concert organisers Music Nation and MakerVille apologised in a statement and said they will thoroughly investigate the incident.
"We are deeply sorry about the accident and are very concerned about the situation of the two people injured," organisers said, adding they will provide all necessary assistance to those hurt.
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