HOUSTON (NWN) – Texas officials say at least eight people have been killed and several others injured as crowds gathered at the Astroworld festival.
Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pea told reporters at a news conference that there was a compression of the crowd toward the stage when rapper Travis Scott was performing after 9 p.m. Friday.
“The crowd started shrinking towards the front of the stage and it caused some chaos and some injuries were caused,” the fire chief said. “People started falling, fainting, and it created additional panic.”
The show was called off shortly after several people were injured.
Pena said officials rushed 17 people to the hospital, including 11 people who had suffered cardiac arrests. Several people were also treated at NRG Park, where a field hospital was built.
Pea said there were about 50,000 people in attendance at the festival.
The fire chief said the cause of the eight deaths was not immediately known to the authorities. A medical examiner will examine. The identity of the deceased could not be ascertained till early Saturday.
Authorities set up a reunion center at a hotel for family members who could not reach relatives present at the festival.
Astroworld is a two-day music festival that was scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday in Houston. According to Astroworld’s website, the event has sold out.
Pena said event promoters had arranged for medical units to be on site at the festival, although once the crowds grew, those units were “quickly overwhelmed”.
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