Emergency services arrive at the scene of a crush at the Astroworld music festival in Houston, Texas, on November 5, 2021. AP
Emergency services arrive at the scene of a crush at the Astroworld music festival in Houston, Texas, on November 5, 2021. AP
At least eight people died and many others were injured in what officials described as a surge of the crowd at the music festival while its organiser, the rapper Travis Scott, was performing. AP
At least eight people died and many others were injured in what officials described as a surge of the crowd at the music festival while its organiser, the rapper Travis Scott, was performing. AP
An ambulance is surrounded by members of the audience. Reuters
An ambulance is surrounded by members of the audience. Reuters
A man stands on an ambulance. Reuters
A man stands on an ambulance. Reuters
An ambulance is surrounded by music fans. Reuters
An ambulance is surrounded by music fans. Reuters
Security officers were present. Reuters
Security officers were present. Reuters
The concert area was packed with people. Reuters
The concert area was packed with people. Reuters
Fans wave their hands in the air. Reuters
Fans wave their hands in the air. Reuters
Fans attending a performance by rapper Travis Scott shout to others to make space. AP
Fans attending a performance by rapper Travis Scott shout to others to make space. AP
The Astroworld site is vacant early on Saturday after several were killed during surges in the crowd at the Travis Scott performance. AP
The Astroworld site is vacant early on Saturday after several were killed during surges in the crowd at the Travis Scott performance. AP
Jonathan Maya places flowers at a gate to NRG Park. Reuters
Jonathan Maya places flowers at a gate to NRG Park. Reuters
Letters and balloons commemorating people who died in the crush are attached to the fence that surrounds NRG Park. AFP
Letters and balloons commemorating people who died in the crush are attached to the fence that surrounds NRG Park. AFP
A pedestrian crosses Main Street in front of a sign announcing the cancellation of Astroworld. AP
A pedestrian crosses Main Street in front of a sign announcing the cancellation of Astroworld. AP

Culture

Music

Astroworld stampede: 93 more lawsuits filed against Travis Scott and promoters

Drake and concert promoters Live Nation have also been named in multiple suits by more than 200 victims

The National

November 13, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Prominent US lawyer Ben Crump announced the filing on Friday of dozens of more lawsuits on behalf of people who attended the disastrous Travis Scott concert, including a woman who said she didn't know she was buying a "death ticket."

Crump told reporters in Houston, where the hip hop artist's concert that resulted in the deaths of nine people took place, that he and affiliated lawyers had filed 93 lawsuits against concert promoter Live Nation and others.

"We represent more than 200 victims who were injured mentally, physically and psychologically at the Astroworld festival," Crump said. "Some of these victims have been catastrophically injured.

"They witnessed people being killed. They witnessed people in agony," he said. "People were literally fighting for their life just to get out of there."

"We're not going to let anybody off the hook," said Crump, who has represented the family of George Floyd and a number of other African-Americans killed by police.

“Nobody should ever die from going to a concert. So this lawsuit is not just about getting justice for them, but it's about making sure that the promoters and the organisers know that you cannot allow this to ever happen in the future.”

Astroworld Festival attendee Dishon Isaac speaks during a press conference as lawyer Ben Crump looks on. AFP
Astroworld Festival attendee Dishon Isaac speaks during a press conference as lawyer Ben Crump looks on. AFP

Eight people died during the crush at the concert attended by about 50,000 people at NRG Park in Houston, and one more person died of their injuries in hospital on Wednesday.

Crump, who was joined by about a half dozen other lawyers, said any one of several concert officials could have prevented deaths and injuries by stopping the show and turning on the house lights when the chaos in the crowd became apparent.

Lawsuits have been filed against Live Nation; ScoreMore, a Texas concert group; ASM Global, an international venue group; and others including Scott and fellow singer Drake, who took to the stage in the final 15 minutes of the concert, well after authorities had declared an emergency.

Lawyer Alex Hilliard said the concert should never have been approved. He accused Live Nation of being criminally negligent by not having an emergency plan, adequate medical staff or equipment on site.

Hannah Longoria leaves flowers as people visit a makeshift memorial on Sunday at the NRG Park grounds, in Houston, Texas, where eight people died in a crowd surge at the Astroworld Festival. AFP
Hannah Longoria leaves flowers as people visit a makeshift memorial on Sunday at the NRG Park grounds, in Houston, Texas, where eight people died in a crowd surge at the Astroworld Festival. AFP
Local high school friends who attended the Travis Scott concert, Isaac Hernandez and Matthias Coronel, both 17, watch Jesus Martinez sign a remembrance board at the memorial. AFP
Local high school friends who attended the Travis Scott concert, Isaac Hernandez and Matthias Coronel, both 17, watch Jesus Martinez sign a remembrance board at the memorial. AFP
Bryanna Morales, 17, injured in the accident, is held by her mother Elma Morales at the makeshift memorial. Morales says she was knocked down twice and injured her foot during the concert. AFP
Bryanna Morales, 17, injured in the accident, is held by her mother Elma Morales at the makeshift memorial. Morales says she was knocked down twice and injured her foot during the concert. AFP
Bryanna Morales, 17, shows a video of the crowd surge that killed eight at the festival. She says the medical staff were not properly trained. "I was taken into the medical tent because I was having a hard time breathing and all they did was hand me a bottle of water and told me to sit in the corner." AFP
Bryanna Morales, 17, shows a video of the crowd surge that killed eight at the festival. She says the medical staff were not properly trained. "I was taken into the medical tent because I was having a hard time breathing and all they did was hand me a bottle of water and told me to sit in the corner." AFP
A woman lights a candle at the memorial. Authorities in Texas opened a criminal investigation into the festival accident. AFP
A woman lights a candle at the memorial. Authorities in Texas opened a criminal investigation into the festival accident. AFP
About 50,000 people were in the audience at NRG Park on Friday night when the crowd started pushing toward the stage as Scott was performing, triggering chaotic scenes. AFP
About 50,000 people were in the audience at NRG Park on Friday night when the crowd started pushing toward the stage as Scott was performing, triggering chaotic scenes. AFP
Family members and friends have begun to share accounts of their loved ones with journalists and through social media. AFP
Family members and friends have begun to share accounts of their loved ones with journalists and through social media. AFP
Reverend Paul Felix leads a prayer vigil held for the victims of the Astroworld crowd surge, at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Houston. AFP
Reverend Paul Felix leads a prayer vigil held for the victims of the Astroworld crowd surge, at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Houston. AFP
Reverend Paul Felix walks down the aisle to begin a prayer vigil held for the victims of the Astroworld crowd surge, at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Houston. AFP
Reverend Paul Felix walks down the aisle to begin a prayer vigil held for the victims of the Astroworld crowd surge, at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Houston. AFP
Jim McIngvale, also known as Mattress Mack, looks on during a prayer vigil held for the victims of the Astroworld crowd surge. AFP
Jim McIngvale, also known as Mattress Mack, looks on during a prayer vigil held for the victims of the Astroworld crowd surge. AFP
A visitor writes a note at the memorial. AFP
A visitor writes a note at the memorial. AFP
Visitors look at the memorial. AFP
Visitors look at the memorial. AFP
Candles are seen outside the venue of the canceled Astroworld festival. AFP
Candles are seen outside the venue of the canceled Astroworld festival. AFP
Items of memorial outside the venue of the cancelled Astroworld festival. AFP
Items of memorial outside the venue of the cancelled Astroworld festival. AFP
Mayor Sylvester Turner speaks about the cancellation of the Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas. AFP
Mayor Sylvester Turner speaks about the cancellation of the Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas. AFP

"We are talking about the largest organiser and promoter of festivals and concerts in the world,” Hilliard said at the briefing. “And when that happens, a failure of epic proportions on this type of scale, it is criminal.”

The lawyers did not attach a dollar figure to their lawsuits during their announcement.

On Thursday, Scott asked victims to reach out to him, saying he "desperately wishes to share his condolences and provide aid." The rapper earlier offered to pay the funeral costs of the victims and for mental health counselling for anyone who attended the festival.

Travis Scott has asked victims to reach out to him, and offered to pay for funeral costs and for mental health counselling. AP
Travis Scott has asked victims to reach out to him, and offered to pay for funeral costs and for mental health counselling. AP

Also attending Crump's press conference were several people who had gone to the concert.

"It was a nightmare day," said Gertrude Daughtery, aged 59 and a grandmother. "I never thought that a concert would turn out to be such a catastrophe.

"Never know that you will buy a ticket and it will be your death ticket," Daughtery said.

Dishon Isaac, 31, described the scene at the concert as a "war zone."

"Fights were breaking out. People were throwing water bottles," Isaac said.

"We were like sardines in a can," he said. "I realised I had to get out of there or I was going to get crushed to death.

"I'll never forget the look of terror on people's faces," Isaac said.

The nine people who were killed ranged in age from 14 to 27. A boy aged 9 remains hospitalised in critical condition, police have said.

– Additional reporting by AFP and Reuters

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

While you're here

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Tips for used car buyers
  • Choose cars with GCC specifications
  • Get a service history for cars less than five years old
  • Don’t go cheap on the inspection
  • Check for oil leaks
  • Do a Google search on the standard problems for your car model
  • Do your due diligence. Get a transfer of ownership done at an official RTA centre
  • Check the vehicle’s condition. You don’t want to buy a car that’s a good deal but ends up costing you Dh10,000 in repairs every month
  • Validate warranty and service contracts with the relevant agency and and make sure they are valid when ownership is transferred
  • If you are planning to sell the car soon, buy one with a good resale value. The two most popular cars in the UAE are black or white in colour and other colours are harder to sell

Tarek Kabrit, chief executive of Seez, and Imad Hammad, chief executive and co-founder of CarSwitch.com

On Women's Day
Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEducatly%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohmmed%20El%20Sonbaty%2C%20Joan%20Manuel%20and%20Abdelrahman%20Ayman%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEducation%20technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%242%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEnterprise%20Ireland%2C%20Egypt%20venture%2C%20Plus%20VC%2C%20HBAN%2C%20Falak%20Startups%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Firas Maksad
Race%20card
%3Cp%3E6pm%3A%20Al%20Maktoum%20Challenge%20Round%201%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(PA)%20%2450%2C000%20(Dirt)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E6.35pm%3A%20Dubai%20Racing%20Club%20Classic%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20%24100%2C000%20(D)%202%2C410m%3Cbr%3E7.10pm%3A%20Dubawi%20Stakes%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(TB)%20%24150%2C000%20(D)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E7.45pm%3A%20Jumeirah%20Classic%20Trial%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(TB)%20%24150%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E8.20pm%3A%20Al%20Maktoum%20Challenge%20Round%201%20%E2%80%93%20Group%202%20(TB)%20%24250%2C000%20(D)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E8.55pm%3A%20Al%20Fahidi%20Fort%20%E2%80%93%20Group%202%20(TB)%20%24180%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E9.30pm%3A%20Ertijaal%20Dubai%20Dash%20%E2%80%93%20Listed%20(TB)%20%24100%2C000%20(T)%201%2C000m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

While you're here
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
%3Cp%3EHigh%20fever%20(40%C2%B0C%2F104%C2%B0F)%3Cbr%3ESevere%20headache%3Cbr%3EPain%20behind%20the%20eyes%3Cbr%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3Cbr%3ENausea%3Cbr%3EVomiting%3Cbr%3ESwollen%20glands%3Cbr%3ERash%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

Explained
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

Brief scoreline:

Burnley 3

Barnes 63', 70', Berg Gudmundsson 75'

Southampton 3

Man of the match

Ashley Barnes (Burnley)

Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
JAPAN SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa

While you're here
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202-litre%204-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E153hp%20at%206%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E200Nm%20at%204%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E6-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E6.3L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh106%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C600rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C500-4%2C000rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10.9L%2F100km%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh119%2C900%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: November 14, 2021, 4:55 AM
MusicUS