At least eight people died, and scores of others were injured at the Astroworld music festival in the U.S. city of Houston on Friday night, officials said.
The surge began around the time that rapper Travis Scott, a festival headliner, took the stage.
“The crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage and that caused some panic and it started causing some injuries,” Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena told a press briefing outside NRG Park early Saturday morning.
“We had at least eight confirmed fatalities tonight and scores of individuals that were injured,” Pena said.
No cause of death was given for the confirmed fatalities, pending the medical examiner’s investigation.
The incident was said to have taken place at around 9:15 p.m. local time when rapper Travis Scott was performing.
At least 17 people were transported to the hospital after the crush and 11 taken by ambulance were in cardiac arrest, Houston officials said.
Some 300 people were treated at a field hospital on the scene.
The Astroworld music festival began in 2018 and was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officials said Saturday’s lineup has been canceled.
“Our hearts are broken,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo told reporters.
“People go to these events looking for a good time,” said Hidalgo, whose county includes Houston, adding that “it’s not the kind of event where you expect to find out about fatalities.”
The city of Houston extended its condolences.
“The city of Houston extends our condolences to the loved ones of 8 people killed & several injured at #ASTROWORLDFest,” the mayor’s office tweeted.
“Organizers held the event to bring people together for music, but it sadly ended in tragedy, “Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a tweet. “Thanks to police, fire & other agencies that responded to assist.”
Officials estimated about 50,000 people were attending the outdoor festival at NRG Park, and the excitement for Scott, in particular, was high. Tickets for his show had reportedly sold out within minutes of going on sale in May.
Astroworld Fest expressed its condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.
Houston, the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas, is also the principal city of the Greater Houston metropolitan area.
(With inputs from agencies)
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