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Music

08th Nov 2021

Travis Scott and Astroworld festival sued as authorities continue to investigate deaths

Katy Brennan

A fatal accident at the concert left eight dead and hundreds injured.

Travis Scott and the organisers of Astroworld festival have been sued by concert-goers after a crush killed eight people and left hundreds injured.

At least three people have sought damages for the injuries they say they sustained during the concert.

Investigations are currently underway into how eight people died at the sold-out music festival in Houston, Texas during a performance by the rapper.

Authorities have said they will use videos, witness interviews and review concert procedures to determine what happened.

During Scott’s set, a crowd of 50,000 surged forward and crushed those at the front. Thirteen people remained in hospital on Sunday, although their conditions have not been disclosed. Over 300 people were treated for injuries at a field hospital at the concert.

Authorities said that they will look at how the area around the stage was set up, the design of the safety barriers, and whether crowds were correctly directed. They will also consider if something other than Scott’s performance incited the crowd.

Investigations come as many concertgoers recounted their harrowing experiences of being trapped in the crowd.

One survivor took to social media in a now viral Instagram post to share their story.

“The rush of people became tighter and tighter,” they said.” Breathing became something only a few were capable. The rest were crushed or unable to breathe in the thick hot air.”

They described people falling to the ground “like watching a Jenga tower topple. Person after person were sucked down”.

Another person told CNN:

“I fell backwards and it felt like it was the end for me… I was so scared.

“I did not know what to do. It was all happening so fast, but so slow and I couldn’t react. I just screamed.”

In a tweet posted on Saturday, Travis Scott said he was “absolutely devastated by what took place” and would work “together with the Houston community to heal and support the families in need”.

The rapper has since come under fire on social media for continuing his performance as the crush developed.

Analysis by the Washington Post suggested that the concert continued for about an hour after audience members first appeared to be in distress.

Kylie Jenner, Scott’s partner, said in an Instagram post: “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.”