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Comments from notable public officials offered thoughts and prayers as questions lingered about how so many people could be injured at a music festival.
Gov. Greg Abbott released the following statement on the tragic incident:
"What happened at Astroworld Festival last night was tragic, and our hearts are with those who lost their lives and those who were injured in the terrifying crowd surge," said Governor Abbott. "Thank you to the first responders and good Samaritans who were on site and immediately tended to those who were injured in the crowd. The State of Texas is ready assist in the response, and I have directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to make state resources available to support the investigation. I ask Texans to join Cecilia and me in lifting up in prayer those affected by this tragedy."
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Scenes from earlier in the day showed chaos at the gates to the event as hundreds of people swarmed, ran through and around security checkpoints.
UNCUT: Astroworld Festival attendees trampled during mad rush to get in
In an Instagram post, event organizers posted "our hearts are with the Astroworld Festival."
Social media was filled with videos from the event showing heartbreaking and terrifying scenes of concert-goers on the ground, unresponsive, as medics tried to work with them. In some, people tried begging for help from others to no avail while the concert blared in the background.
HFD Chief Sam Pena speaks on mass casualty at Astroworld Fest
Rapper Travis Scott first debuted "Astroworld Fest" in 2018.