Ischia – A giant screen weighing over several quintals, part of the Ischia Global Film & Music Festival setup, suddenly collapsed this morning in Piazza Santa Restituta, a few meters from the Hotel della Regina Isabella and the town hall of Lacco Ameno.
The structure, composed of an aluminum truss that supported a screen for public screenings, collapsed to the ground without involving people, even though the area is usually crowded with tourists and residents.
The structure collapsed before the eyes of passers-by
The collapse, which occurred in broad daylight, caused panic among those present, but fortunately no one was injured. The municipal police intervened immediately, closing the area to traffic and starting the first surveys. The municipal technicians are now verifying the causes of the collapse, which could be linked to an assembly defect or a structural problem.
In the past few evenings, right under that giant screen, some of the most anticipated events of the festival took place, including the award ceremony for Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, in front of hundreds of spectators. Other events were scheduled for the next few days, but now the organizers will have to evaluate any changes to the safety of the setup.
Authorities are examining every hypothesis, from excessive load to possible errors in the installation. In the meantime, the square remains closed to the public until further notice, while the festival - one of the most glamorous events on the island - tries to go ahead, between concern and relief for the averted danger.
It's very strange that this giant screen collapse happened, especially in a crowded area. I hope the authorities conduct a thorough investigation to understand what happened and whether there are any serious problems.