Chicago’s Grant Park, the site of this year’s Lollapalooza Festival, is currently being evacuated due to particularly strong thunderstorms rolling into the area.
Organizers delayed live performances shortly after a severe weather warning was issued for the area. A few minutes later, under the advice of the Chicago police department, the organizers temporarily shut down Lollapalooza 2012 as a result of the severe thunderstorm, which was set to hit the park at 3.30pm.
Festival-goers are being directed to three evacuation shelters along Michigan Avenue.
In a statement, event promoter Shelby Meade said: “Our first priority is always the safety of our fans, staff and artists. We regret having to suspend any show, but safety always comes first.”
Foo Fighters played through the rain at last year’s Lollapalooza, however both high-winds and lightning pose a real threat to any outdoor event. Just last year, a stage collapsed during a Sugarland concert in Indiana due to high winds, leaving five people dead, and many more injured.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers are due to close the second day of the three-day festival tonight. Once resumed, the festival will be live-streamed on YouTube.
Officials will continue to monitor the weather conditions, and will let festival-goers know when it’s safe to return to Grant Park.
Watch The Black Keys perform Howlin’ For You at Lollapalooza 2012 below:
