Houston authorities said that eight people were killed and scores others injured during a huge crowd crush at the Astroworld music festival late Friday night.
“People began to fall out, become unconscious, and it created additional panic,” Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena said. “This was a tragic night.”
The preliminary reports from the chaotic scene revealed that revelers gathered near the stage area at NRG Park with at least 50,000 people compressed to see performing artists.
“Our hearts are broken,” Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said. “People go these events looking for a good time, a chance to unwind, to make memories.”
“It’s not the kind of event you go to where you expect to find out about fatalities. Obviously, this is the last place we want to be – especially after we’ve been through so much as a community.”
Some of the deceased victims did not even have identification on them. 23 people were transported to area hospitals and 11 were in cardiac arrest.
“Our hearts are with the Astroworld Festival family tonight – especially those we lost and their loved ones,” Astroworld said in a tweet.
“We are focused on supporting local officials however we can. With that in mind, the festival will no longer be held on Saturday.”
