8 dead and 13 hospitalized following rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld music festival disaster

Kwela Cole

2 years ago

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Eight persons have died and dozens more injured at American rapper Travis Scott’s Astroworld music festival in Houston, Texas Friday night.

Officials state the causes of the casualties and injuries as uncontrollable crowd surges as patrons desperately attempted to reach the stage.

Travis’ set began at 9 pm and quickly drew the crowd of over 50,000 people to the artiste’s stage. Speaking at a press conference late Friday evening, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña explained that the crowd “began to compress towards the front of the stage… That caused some panic and it began to cause some injuries. People began to fall out, become unconscious, and it created additional panic”.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the deaths as including a 14-year-old, a 16-year-old, two 21-year-olds, two 23-year-olds a 27-year-old and one person who was not yet identified. Turner went on saying 13 persons were hospitalised, including five minors – one of which is a 10-year-old.

The incident has gone viral online with videos and pictures circulating depicting disturbing crowd density and festival officials and Travis Scott himself ignoring pleas from concert-goers to end the event.

Scott and the Astroworld organization have since released statements sending prayers to the families of those lost and injured and assuring the public of their corporation with the necessary authorities. The second day of the festival that was to take place has since been cancelled.