HOUSTON – (Updated Dec. 1) A criminal investigation is still ongoing to determine the cause of the deadly crowd surge at Astroworld Festival at NRG Park in Houston. Ten confirmed deaths and “scores of injuries” were reported as a result of a crowd surge during rapper Travis Scott’s Nov. 5 performance. According to reports, the 50,000-strong crowd began compressing toward the stage around 9:15 p.m., causing panic and injuries until it was quickly declared a “mass casualty incident.” In addition to the onsite security, more than 55 Houston Fire Department units stepped in to perform CPR on unconscious concert-goers, with reports that 17 were rushed to area hospitals, with 11 of those in cardiac arrest. There were 300 people treated at an onsite field hospital.
The concert was ended early. The second day of the two-day festival was canceled, which was to feature Bad Bunny, Earth, Wind & Fire and Beaumont native Teezo Touchdown. A reunification center for families has been set up at the Wyndham Houston Hotel near NRG Park. (Update: Families have identified all eight victims.)
Earlier in the day, hundreds of people rushed through the entrance gates, blowing past metal detectors and security. Here’s a video from KHOU ABC 11 in Houston of the crowds rushing in: