Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival kicked off its first night in Texas on Friday (November 05) — and led to a tragic, heartbreaking incident.
The Tragedy
A “mass-casualty incident” took place at the Astroworld concert beginning around 9pm on Friday outside NRG Park in Houston, Texas. The tragedy left eight people dead and over 300 people injured.
About 50,000 people were in attendance at the sold-out festival. The massive crowd started to surge forward as Travis was playing his set, which led to panic in the crowd. Fans tried to escape for safety. It was reported that Travis stopped his set many times to ask security to assist the fans, until at 9:38pm, the “mass-casualty incident” took place.
Houston Fire Department Chief Samuel Pena stated during a press conference:
“The crowd began to compress toward the front of the stage and that caused some panic and started causing some injuries. People began to fall out and become unconscious and that created additional panic.”
Executive Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite added:
“It happened all at once. It seemed like it happened over the course of just a few minutes.”
Houston Chronicle reported that a fan who was present at the event wrote this on Instagram:
“The rush of people became tighter and tighter.. Breathing became something only a few were capable. The rest were crushed or unable to breathe in the thick hot air. It was like watching a Jenga tower topple. Person after person were sucked down… You were at the mercy of the wave.”
At least 25 people were taken to the hospital following the incident, with 11 of them in cardiac arrest. Of the eight who passed away, the victims were 14, 16, two were 21, two were 23, and one was 27 years old, while one victim’s age remains unknown. No people were reported missing.
A source said to THR:
“Police are looking into a drug spiking incident in a targeted area of the festival. The source says it appears to have targeted an attack on unknowing people, including a child, and that the quick response from Astroworld security and staff on site likely saved more people from being injured.”
The Aftermath
Astroworld’s festival organizers released a statement on Saturday morning:
“Our hearts are with the Astroworld Festival family tonight — especially those we lost and their loved ones. We are focused on supporting local officials however we can. With that in mind the festival will no longer be held on Saturday.
As authorities mentioned in their press conference earlier, they are looking into the series of cardiac arrests that took place. If you have any relevant information on this, please reach out to Houston Police. Thank you to our partners at the Houston Police Department, Fire Department and NRG Park for their response and support.”
Travis Scott released a statement of his own addressing the tragic incident on Saturday:
“I’m absolutely devastated by what took place last night. My prayers go out to the families and all those impacted by what happened at Astroworld Festival.
Houston PD has my total support as they continue to look into the tragic loss of life.
I am committed to working together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need. Thank you to Houston PD, Fire Department and NRG Park for their immediate response and support.
Love you all.”
Travis’ pregnant girlfriend and makeup mogul Kylie Jenner likewise released a statement on Saturday:
“Travis and I are broken and devastated. My thoughts and prayers are with all who lost their lives, were injured or affected in anyway by yesterday’s events. And also for Travis who I know cares deeply for his fans and the Houston community.
I want to make it clear we weren’t aware of any fatalities until the news came out after the show and in no world would have continued filming or performing. I am sending my deepest condolences to all the families during this difficult time and will be praying for the healing of everyone who has been impacted.”
Astroworld performer Roddy Ricch, who performed earlier in the evening, announced that he will be donating his earnings from the festival to the victims’ families:
“Please have the families of those who we lost yesterday reach out. I’ll be donating my net compensation to the families of this incident #Pray4Houston.”
SZA, who also performed hours before the incident, wrote on Twitter:
“Speechless about last night I’m actually in shock n don’t even know what to say… Just praying for everyone in Houston especially the families of those that lost their lives.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced in a news conference on Saturday evening:
“There are a lot of unanswered questions. Over the next several days, several weeks, could be even longer, we’ll take an in-depth look at everything that took place, why it took place, what steps we can do moving forward to mitigate an incident of this kind from taking place.”
Kanye West dedicated his latest Sunday Service to “the loved ones as Astroworld.” Kanye and Kylie’s sister Kim Kardashian are in the midst of divorce proceedings.
Reports came out on Sunday (November 7) that Travis and concert organizers Live Nation are being sued in the aftermath of the deadly tragedy. They are facing at least one lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed the day before by injured concert attendee Manuel Souza, who called the incident a “predictable and preventable tragedy” and stating that it was the direct result of “a motivation for profit at the expense of concertgoers’ health and safety.” More lawsuits are expected to follow.
It was announced on Monday (November 8) that Travis would be providing full refunds to all who attended Friday’s concert. He has also pulled out of this weekend’s Day N Vegas Festival because he is “too distraught to play.”
Our thoughts go out to all the victims of this tragic event.
