A man was seriously injured on Saturday after a palm tree was blown over by a sudden gust of wind, striking him during the Cannes Film Festival.
The incident occurred near the Palais des Festivals on the Croisette esplanade, a scenic and heavily trafficked stretch overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, just as crowds had gathered for the screening of the American film “Eddington“ starring Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Pedro Pascal.
Emergency responders said the victim, described as an Asian man believed to be attending the festival, sustained serious injuries and was treated on-site before being rushed to hospital.
“There was a terrible gust of wind and I heard a cry,” said Marthy Fink, a tourist from Luxembourg who witnessed the accident. “It knocked a man to the ground, badly injuring him.”
Fink said the man had just passed her moments before the tree came crashing down. “He was clearly in a hurry,” she added, visibly shaken by the experience.
The esplanade was crowded with festivalgoers at the time, raising concerns over safety in the popular outdoor gathering areas.
Authorities quickly cordoned off the site and began assessing the stability of nearby trees.
The Cannes Film Festival, now in full swing, attracts thousands of film fans, celebrities, and industry professionals each year.
This incident marks a rare and alarming accident during what is typically a tightly controlled event.
Officials have not released the identity of the injured man and are continuing to monitor weather conditions to prevent similar occurrences.
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