About 20,000 partygoers gathered Saturday for an illegal bash at a military site in France, defying warnings about the risk of unexploded ordnance and possible explosions.
The blast near the city of Bourges in central France began on Friday and organizers expect up to 30,000 people from France and neighboring countries to reach the summit this weekend.
“Despite its illegal nature, the government has mobilized to ensure the safety of this event and limit any inconvenience, especially to nearby residents,” the prefecture said in a statement.
Speaking to AFP, Philippe Le Moing Surzur, the top regional official, said the site was “extremely dangerous because of the unexploded ordnance it may contain”.
While modern shells posed no threat, he warned of the danger from old unexploded ordnance and urged revelers to avoid nearby woods.
“This is a site that has been in use for 150 years and we know there are potentially old artillery shells there,” he said, adding that bomb disposal experts detect them regularly.
Revelers see the giant party not only as a chance to relax, but also as a protest against tougher legislation aimed at illegal techno gatherings.
“I had heard there would be a lot of people, but once you’re there, it’s still a shock to see so many people gathered in one place,” a 22-year-old man told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Another participant, 19, said the turnout was “a strong message against repression”.
About 600 policemen and 45 firefighters have been deployed to the scene.
“We are preparing for a big meeting tonight,” said Edith Raquin, the mayor of Cornusse, a village of 220 people located less than two kilometers (about a mile) from the site.
“We could stay up all night.”
No major incidents were reported, with emergency services treating a dozen people for minor injuries.
