Storm Eunice rips huge hole in roof of The O2 Arena
60mph winds in the capital continue to wreak havoc
By Nick Reilly
London’s O2 Arena has been damaged by Storm Eunice, after huge winds ripped a number of large panels off the venue’s iconic domed roof.
Photos and videos posted to social media showed a gaping hole in the entertainment venue’s roof, after its glass fibre fabric panels were shredded to pieces by 60mph winds.
The damage was witnessed firsthand by guests staying at the InterContinental Hotel, which is located directly next to the venue.
Footage of the venue, which boasts a capacity of 20,000, also showed the white canopy roof panels slowly drifting into the nearby River Thames in South East London.
It is unclear if the damage could force The O2 to postpone two scheduled shows from Brit Award winning rapper Dave on Monday (February 21) and Tuesday (February 22), but it has since been confirmed that the venue will close its doors for the rest of the day.
The O2 confirmed in a statement that they had sustained damage to “the tent fabric in our roof”.
“Due to today’s adverse weather conditions, we can confirm that there has been some damage caused to the tent fabric in our roof at The O2,” the statement read. “The affected areas have been cleared and The O2 will remain closed for the rest of the day.
“Tonight’s AP Dhillon show at indigo at The O2 is being rescheduled to Tuesday 22nd February. Please check the event page for further info. The safety of our visitors remains of paramount importance, and we will continue to assess the ongoing situation and act accordingly.”
Separate footage from hotel guest Ben Hubbard confirmed that the storm has now ripped over six individual panels from the venue’s roof.
The 02 opened in 2000 as the Millennium Dome, before reopening in its current form in 2007.
It comes as Storm Eunice continues to wreak havoc across London, with a number of trains and flights cancelled due to the storm. The Met Office has issued a red warning for wind – the highest level – for London, the South East and parts of the east of England.
Thousands of homes have also been left without power across the country, while transport services have been suspended.