It has been an exceptionally bad summer for violent storms and stage-related mishaps at outdoor music festivals.

The latest such incident took place Thursday in Belgium during Pukkelpop, where at least five people died and an estimated 140 were injured after an intense thunderstorm hit the festival site and knocked down staging areas as well as tents and trees.

Scheduled performers during the three-day festival — an annual event since 1985 — included Good Charlotte, 30 Seconds to Mars and Foo Fighters.

“I have seen many tropical storms, but this was unprecedented,” said Pukkelpop organizer Chokri Mahassine, who decided to cancel the remainder of the event “out of respect for the victims, their relatives and friends.”

On Aug. 13, a stage collapsed at the Indiana State Fair just prior to a performance by the country duo Sugarland. An estimated 45 people were injured, and the death toll has risen to six.

On July 17, a windstorm caused the main Ottawa Bluesfest stage to collapse, halting a performance by classic rockers Cheap Trick and damaging most of the band’s equipment. The musicians were unharmed, but at least three people at the event were transported to a hospital for injury treatment.

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