During the first night of rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival in Houston, Texas, at least eight people were killed and many were injured.
The artist, who founded and inaugurated the event in 2018, said he was “devastated” by the events on Friday and vowed “complete assistance” to the authorities.
“What happened last night has really destroyed me. On Saturday, Scott stated on Twitter, “My prayers go out to the families and all those effected by what happened at Astroworld Festival.” “I adore all of you.”
During Scott’s performance, the audience began to throng around the stage around 9:15 p.m. local time (12:15 p.m. GMT), according to Houston fire chief Samuel Pena. People began to pass out as a result of not being able to breathe, according to Pena. The festival drew a crowd of around 50,000 people.
“It all happened at once.” “It felt like it happened in a flash… in a matter of minutes,” Houston Police Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite said.
“All of a sudden, we had numerous folks down on the ground, suffering from some sort of cardiac arrest or medical event,” he explained.
According to Pena, 17 persons were rushed to the hospital, 11 of them were in cardiac arrest. A field hospital had been built up at NRG Park, and several individuals were treated there.
Scott came to a halt several times throughout his 75-minute set when he noticed people in distress near the stage, according to a video shared online. He requested that security check them out to make sure they were safe. Several times, emergency cars with flashing lights and sirens sliced through the audience.
“We require assistance. According to video of Scott’s act, which included a cameo appearance by Canadian rapper Drake, “someone passed out right here.” “Security, somebody, hurry up and get in here.”
Images shared on social media showed a large number of emergency personnel on the scene. According to police, they are checking camera evidence from the venue.
Drake, Young Thug, Tame Impala, and Earth, Wind, and Fire were among the acts performing at the sold-out event, which was scheduled to last two nights.
Both the organizers and Scott were collaborating with the cops.
Live Nation Entertainment, the festival’s organizer, said on Twitter, “We are focused on supporting local officials in any way we can.”
It also announced that the second day of performances will be canceled.
A reunification center has been established up at a nearby hotel for those who have not heard from loved ones since the event, according to authorities.
Crowds had rushed to a VIP area earlier in the day, breaking down barriers and allegedly trampling several persons who fell, but no serious injuries were recorded at the time.
The incident is reminiscent of a 1979 concert by British rock band The Who, during which 11 people were killed as fans stampeded into Cincinnati’s Riverfront Coliseum before the show.
Scott rose to prominence in the early 2010s as a result of his distinctive vocal style. His third studio album, Astroworld, was released to tremendous acclaim in 2018.
