At least eight people were killed and many more injured in a crowd movement Friday through Saturday night during the Astroworld music festival in Texas, southern United States.
At around 9:00 p.m. local time, “the crowd started to crowd to the front of the stage. It created a start of panic which caused injuries, people started to fall, lose consciousness and it caused further panic, ”said Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena.
“We have at least eight confirmed deaths tonight and many people injured,” he said at a press conference outside NRG Park, where the event was taking place, adding that the cause of the death could only be confirmed after medical examinations.
“We transported 17 patients to the hospital,” 11 of whom were in cardiac arrest, Pena added.
More than 300 people had to be treated for injuries on the spot, including minor scrapes and bruises, authorities said.
A total of nearly 50,000 people were in the crowd to attend the Astroworld festival where more than 360 police officers and 240 security guards were mobilized.
Houston police have announced the opening of an investigation to determine the causes of this tragedy, adding that they were examining the video footage of the evening.
“Within minutes, we found ourselves with several people on the ground doing some sort of cardiac arrest,” police said, adding that the concert ended after the stampede. The rest of the festival, which was scheduled to continue on Saturday, has been canceled.
“Our thoughts are with the festival family tonight, especially those we have lost and their loved ones,” organizers said on the Astroworld Instagram page, “we are primarily looking to support local authorities”.
Resuscitation scenes
Astroworld is a music festival launched in 2018 by American rapper Travis Scott, originally from Texas.
The 30-something artist, who broke in 2013, has been nominated eight times for the Grammy Awards. He has a child with Kylie Jenner, one of the daughters of the Kardashian clan and reality TV star.
During Travis Scott’s concert on Friday night, Canadian rap superstar Drake joined him on stage.
According to the daily the Houston Chronicle, the artist repeatedly stopped his concert when he saw spectators in difficulty near the stage.
Among the crowd, onlookers described scenes of chaos, with people so huddled together that many couldn’t breathe, the newspaper said.
Images of NRG Park circulating on social media showed dozens of people rushing to front gates, stepping over and knocking down metal detectors, facing outnumbered security guards unable to contain the crowds .
Many people could be seen falling, but it was not specified whether this is the context in which the deaths occurred.
Other videos showed rescuers resuscitating oblivious fans in the middle of the audience, as the concert continued.
Other artists scheduled to perform at the festival over the weekend included rappers Chief Keef and 21 Savage, as well as Australian rock band Tame Impala.