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Tomorrowland Unite Spain festival has dramatically been evacuated tonight after a huge fire broke out engulfing its stage in Barcelona hours before Steve Aoki was due to perform.

A huge crowd of 22,000 people was evacuated from the site, Parc de Can Zam, after a blaze broke out near banks of speakers on the main stage.

Videos which have surfaced on social media show how the speaker system to the left of the main stage was engulfed in fire in a matter of seconds.

Music fans could be seen dashing to safety from the front of the main stage as they panicked and realised what was happening.

Others appeared oblivious to what was happening as they danced with the stage erupting in flames behind them.

One eyewitness reported on social media that the stage simply "just exploded".

Another witness claimed that the fire "apparently started during a fireworks display" - though this was yet to be officially confirmed.

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(Image: Twitter) (Image: Twitter)

Pyrotechnics on the stage have been blamed for starting the blaze, according to local media, although that is yet to be confirmed.

Organisers have pointed the finger at a "technical malfunction".

Worried relatives have been taking to social media trying to ensure their loved ones are safe.

The main event is understood to being broadcast in Belgium with it being livestreamed to the giant screens in Barcelona.

But performers in Belgium did not appear to have been told what is happening and continued with their performance as the stage in Barcelona burnt down.

Local media have estimated 25 per cent of the stage was destroyed by the blaze - although images that have surfaced appear to show that it's more substantially damaged.

The emergency evacuation procedure flashed on the stage screen as the flames erupted.

At the time of the blaze, the festival was in "direct connection" with the main festival in Belgium, CCMA reported.

The Barcelona event was reportedly stopped at 10.15pm local time (9.15pm UK time).

(Image: Twitter)

(Image: Twitter)

In a statement on Facebook, Tomorrowland organisers said: "Tonight, July 29th 2017, the UNITE Barcelona stage caught fire due to a technical malfunction.

"Thanks to the professional intervention of the authorities all 22.000 visitors were evacuated safely and without reports of injuries.

"Authorities will follow up and continue the investigation with the local Spanish organizer of UNITE."

(Image: Twitter)

But fans have been taking to social media to criticise security, question where fire crews were and demand refunds.

"I'm going straight to the point, the money? fans Chonglin Zhan Lee wrote on a Facebook event page.

The fire was brought under control in just over half an hour but firefighters warned there was a risk of collapse, Globo reported.

Several ambulances and up to 11 fire trucks rushed to the site.

But the website said the only recorded issues were from people with anxiety attacks.

Emergency services confirm no injuries had been reported.

"The firemen's initial hypothesis is that there was an overheating of the material used in the construction of the stage during the presentation of a pyrotechnic spectacle," the website said.

Firefighters were "soaking the hot areas of the fire carefully" because of the risk of collapsed, La Vanguardia reported.

Access to the site was being restricted.

"Will you give it back to me? I was only 10 minutes and I found fire..."

Steve Aoki - best known for his chart-topping collaboration Just Hold On with One Direction star Louis Tomlinson - was due to take to the stage at 2am (1pm UK time).

Tomorrowland is one of the most popular music festivals in the world.

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Promotion literature advertises that "special effects are synchronised with the show in Belgium adding value to the global connection".

Other headliners include Afrojack live on stage before Steve Aoki in Spain and Armin Van Burren and Dimitri Vegas being livestreamed via satellite.