THOUSANDS of fans were forced to run for cover ahead of a Taylor Swift concert due to fears of lightning strikes.
The Accor stadium in Sydney was partially evacuated due to severe weather ahead of her blockbuster opening show in the city.
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.
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 bowl 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.
As the storm passed, the concert resumed but support act Sabrina Carpenter did not perform and Swift took to the stage at 7.45pm to a huge roar.