Storm Eunice: O2 Arena closed when the roof was scratched by a solid wind.
Written byTimes Magazine
The canvas roof of London's O2 Arena was ripped apart by hurricane Eunice, and the venue was closed.
Opened in 2000 also formerly known as the Millennium Dome, the Greenwich landmark in southeast London was marred by gusts of up to 80mph. The building has been evacuated also will remain closed until Friday. The safety of our visitors remains paramount," O2 said in a statement.
"We will continue to assess the current situation and act accordingly," a spokesman added. The venue changed its name to O2 in 2007 and hosts concerts and sporting events. In addition, it has a cinema and several shops and restaurants.
Elementary school teacher Lucy Sloman described hearing a "huge bang" before being led away by security guards. The band Simply Red, which was due to hold a concert this weekend but was canceled due to Covid, described the development as "tragic."
Originally conceived as an 'international icon' when discovered by Tony Blair's Labor government, the Millennium Dome project has cost £789 million since closing in late 2000 - and tens of millions more under maintenance.
The building, which was later handed over to private hands, was the site of a failed diamond heist that police said would be the largest in the world. The Dome also starred in the dramatic opening scene of the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough.
An O2 spokesperson said: "Due to today's severe weather conditions, we can confirm that the awning fabric on the roof of our O2 has been damaged. The affected area has been cleared, and O2 will remain closed until the end of the day.
Trending News
