At least eight dead, scores injured at US music festival in Houston

HOUSTON -- At least eight people died and scores of others were injured at the Astroworld music festival in the US city of Houston on Friday night, officials said.

"The crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage and that caused some panic and it started causing some injuries," Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena told a press briefing outside NRG Park early Saturday morning.

"We had at least eight confirmed fatalities tonight and scores of individuals that were injured," Pena said.

No cause of death was given for the confirmed fatalities, pending the medical examiner's investigation.

The incident was said to have taken place at around 9:15 pm local time when rapper Travis Scott was performing.

At least 17 people were transported to hospital after the crush and 11 taken by ambulance were in cardiac arrest, Houston officials said.

Some 300 people were treated at a field hospital on the scene.

The Astroworld music festival began in 2018 and was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Officials said Saturday's lineup has been canceled.

"Our hearts are broken," Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo told reporters.

"People go to these events looking for a good time," said Hidalgo, whose county includes Houston, adding that "it's not the kind of event where you expect to find out about fatalities."

Houston, the most populous city in the US state of Texas, is also the principal city of the Greater Houston metropolitan area.