Look: AZ Alkmaar Stadium Roof Collapses Because of Strong Winds
Aug 10, 2019
A view of a section of the collapsed at the AZ Alkmaar football club's AFAS Stadium in Alkmaar on August 10, 2019. (Photo by Vincent Jannink / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo credit should read VINCENT JANNINK/AFP/Getty Images)
Strong winds in the Netherlands caused the partial collapse of the roof of AZ Alkmaar's AFAS Stadium on Saturday.
Sports writer Brian Wijker shared this photo of the damage:
According to Sky Sports, no one was hurt, as AZ were not in the ground at the time.
General manager Robert Eenhoorn reacted to the collapse: "This surprised us all. We are very shocked but happy that there was no human suffering. In the coming days, we will conduct a study with experts in this field. Only when that investigation has been done can we elaborate on the matter. It is much too early for that now."
The Netherlands has been hit hard by inclement weather in recent days. On Friday, a small tornado briefly touched down in the capital of Amsterdam:
INTENSE: A tornado briefly touched down in the heart of Amsterdam Friday, shocking residents 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/mDGKp6nccQ
According to Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad, AZ had their Saturday training session indoors because of weather warnings. The Dutch side will travel to Waalwijk for a clash with RKC on Sunday and are scheduled to play host to FC Mariupol in a UEFA Europa League qualifier on Thursday.
Eenhoorn acknowledged that match may not be played in Alkmaar: "We have a big problem. Everything will have to be investigated first. I just spoke briefly to the city, fire department and police, but there is little we can say. We don't know exactly what happened. There won't be any matches played in the stadium if the situation isn't safe."
ALKMAAR, NETHERLANDS - AUGUST 10: Roof stadium of AZ Alkmaar collapsed during the Roof stadium of AZ Alkmaar collapsed at the AFAS Stadium on August 10, 2019 in Alkmaar Netherlands (Photo by Ed van de Pol/Soccrates/Getty Images)
AZ are likely to be cautious, as memories of the 2011 disaster in Enschede are still fresh. Per BBC Sport, two people died and more than a dozen were injured when part of FC Twente's De Grolsch Veste stadium collapsed while construction was going on.
The AFAS Stadium opened in 2006 and seats just over 17,000 fans.
