THOUSANDS of fans were forced to run for cover ahead of a Taylor Swift concert today due to fears over lightning strikes.
The Accor stadium in Sydney was partially evacuated due to the “severe” weather ahead of her blockbuster opening show in the city.
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Dramatic footage showed the chaos inside the 83,500-seat stadium ahead of the pop star’s first Sydney Eras Tour show as rain poured down and lightning struck nearby.
The highly-anticipated and sold out gig was scheduled to kick off at 6.20pm local time, with the 14-time Grammy winner hitting the stage at 7.30pm.
However, over fears of lightning strikes, fans on the ground level and lower bowel who had forked out hundreds to see their idol close-up were told to run for shelter.
Videos from the scene taken just before 6pm show thousands – most dressed in pink and wearing clear rain ponchos – scrambling from their seats and into covered areas.
Organisers then announced the show would be delayed.
A statement read: “Stay undercover until further notice and follow venue screens and staff instructions.
“Stay safe and remember to be kind to those around you.”
A voice on a loudspeaker was heard telling the concert-goers that lightning had struck just 10km away and ticket holders needed to evacuate.
Accord Stadium had previously announced the concert would go ahead come “rain or shine” – unless the severe weather threatened fans’ safety.
Australia’s met office had predicted “possibly severe” thunderstorms throughout Friday afternoon and evening – and emergency services warned people to be careful while travelling.
Just after 7pm, hopeful crowds were seen slowly moving back into floor seats as the sun emerged and the show finally went ahead.
The bad weather is set to break overnight.
Swift, 34, is set to perform at the Accor Stadium today, Saturday, Sunday and Monday before jetting off to Singapore – her last stop in the Asia-Pacific region.
Following a two-month break, the European leg of the Eras Tour will start in Paris on May 9.
The pop sensation will start performing in North America again in the autumn.
Yesterday, the Shake It Off singer was spotted out and about at Sydney Zoo with Travis Kelce, 34, after the Kansas City Chiefs tight end landed in Australia to join his girlfriend on tour.
The pair could be seen holding hands as they took a private tour.
Swift made a hectic trip back to the US to cheer on Kelce and his Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII a little over a week ago.
She then joined her beau in celebrating Kansas City’s victory on the Las Vegas strip before heading back Down Under.
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