One dead, nine injured as stage for Madonna concert collapses

Paris: One person was killed and at least nine were injured Thursday in the French city of Marseille when a stage being set up for a Madonna concert collapsed, a spokesman for the city said.Two of the injured were reported in critical condition. The daily La Provence reported that the 60-tonne roof of the stage being erected in Marseille`s Velodrome Stadium collapsed after a cable winch broke. In a statement, Madonna said she was "devastated" by the news.

"My prayers go out to those who were injured and their families along with my deepest sympathy to all those affected by this heartbreaking news," she said. The concert, scheduled for Sunday as part of her Sticky & Sweet Tour has been cancelled. The Velodrome, which is home to the Olympique de Marseille football club, is France`s second-largest sports stadium and seats 60,000 people. IANS