Natural disasters have caused significant disruptions to music concerts worldwide, causing cancellations, postponements, and damage to venues. Fans have expressed frustration and support for affected communities, while musicians have raised awareness and funds for disaster relief efforts.
Music concerts can be a source of joy but also pose risks like overcrowding, stampedes, fires, explosions, violence, terrorism, and infectious diseases. To prevent these dangers, concert organizers and authorities must ensure adequate security, emergency preparedness, crowd control, and sanitation measures.
[h2]Here's a row of the worst disasters in the history of music around the world:[/h2]
[strong]Cromañón Fire[/strong] on Dec. 30, 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A fire broke out during a rock concert at the República Cromañón nightclub, killing 194 people and injuring more than 1,400. The fire was caused by a flare that ignited the ceiling decorations.
[strong]Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire[/strong] on May 28, 1977 in Southgate, Kentucky. A fire engulfed the Beverly Hills Supper Club during a performance by singer John Davidson, killing 165 people and injuring more than 200. The fire was caused by faulty wiring and poor fire safety measures.
[strong]Station Nightclub Fire[/strong] on Feb. 20, 2003 in West Warwick, Rhode Island. A fire erupted during a concert by the band Great White at the Station nightclub, killing 100 people and injuring more than 200. The fire was caused by pyrotechnics that ignited the flammable sound insulation.
[strong]Santika Nightclub Fire[/strong] on Jan. 1, 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. A fire swept through the Santika nightclub during a New Year’s Eve party, killing 66 people and injuring more than 200. The fire was caused by fireworks that set fire to the ceiling decorations.
[strong]Love Parade[/strong] on July 24, 2010 in Duisburg, Germany. A stampede occurred during the Love Parade techno music festival, killing 21 people and injuring more than 500. The stampede was caused by overcrowding and poor crowd management at the entrance tunnel.
[strong]Roskilde Festival[/strong] on June 30, 2000 in Roskilde, Denmark. Nine men were crushed to death during a performance by Pearl Jam at the Roskilde music festival, when fans rushed to the front of the stage and those in front collapsed. The band stopped playing and asked fans to back away, but it was too late.
[strong]The Who at Cincinnati Riverfront Stadium[/strong] on Dec. 3, 1979 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Eleven fans were killed and several injured when they tried to enter the Riverfront Coliseum for a concert by The Who. The doors were opened late and only a few were available for general admission ticket holders, creating a bottleneck and a surge of people.
[strong]Pukkelpop Festival[/strong] on Aug. 18, 2011 in Hasselt, Belgium. A severe storm hit the Pukkelpop music festival, causing several stages and tents to collapse and killing 5 people and injuring more than 140. The festival was cancelled after the incident.
[strong]Laneway Festival[/strong] on Feb. 1, 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand. A crowd crush occurred during a performance by Lorde at the Laneway music festival, injuring 25 people and sending two to the hospital. The crush was caused by fans trying to enter a narrow alleyway to see the singer.
[strong]Manchester Arena Bombing[/strong] on May 22, 2017 in Manchester, England. A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device at the exit of the Manchester Arena after an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people and injuring more than 800. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State terrorist group.
[strong]Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting[/strong] on Oct. 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman opened fire from a hotel room overlooking the Route 91 Harvest music festival, killing 58 people and injuring more than 800. The shooter later killed himself before police could reach him. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
[strong]Bataclan Theatre Attack[/strong] on Nov. 13, 2015 in Paris, France. A group of gunmen and suicide bombers attacked several locations in Paris, including the Bataclan theatre where the band Eagles of Death Metal was playing. The attackers killed 89 people and injured more than 200 at the theatre, and a total of 130 people and injured more than 400 across the city. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State terrorist group.
[strong]Seventeen Tsunami[/strong] on Dec. 22, 2018 in Tanjung Lesung, Banten. A tsunami triggered by the eruption of Anak Krakatau volcano hit the beach resort where the Indonesian pop band Seventeen was performing, killing 4 members of the band and their crew, and injuring several others. The band’s lead singer Riefian Fajarsyah survived but lost his wife Dylan Sahara in the disaster.
[strong]Pasar Baru Stampede[/strong] on Jan. 1, 2008 in Jakarta, Indonesia. A stampede occurred during a free concert by the Indonesian pop group Ungu at the Pasar Baru shopping complex, killing 10 people and injuring more than 100. The stampede was caused by overcrowding and lack of security at the venue.
[strong]Bandung Stampede[/strong] on Feb. 10, 2008 in Bandung, West Java. A stampede occurred during a concert by the Indonesian rock band Sheila On 7 at the Siliwangi Stadium, killing 3 people and injuring more than 50. The stampede was caused by fans trying to enter the stadium through a narrow gate.
[strong]Diamond Harbour Stampede[/strong] on Nov. 14, 2010 in Diamond Harbour, West Bengal. A stampede occurred during a concert by the Bengali singer Manna Dey at the Diamond Harbour stadium, killing 8 people and injuring more than 20. The stampede was caused by a power outage that triggered panic among the crowd of about 50,000.
[strong]Kumbh Mela Stampede[/strong] on Feb. 10, 2013 in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. A stampede occurred at the Allahabad railway station during the Kumbh Mela religious festival, killing 36 people and injuring more than 40. The stampede was caused by overcrowding and confusion at the station where millions of pilgrims were returning from the festival.
[strong]Dussehra Stampede[/strong] on Oct. 3, 2014 in Patna, Bihar. A stampede occurred near the Gandhi Maidan after the Dussehra celebrations, killing 32 people and injuring more than 20. The stampede was caused by rumours of a live electric wire falling on the ground.
[strong]Akasaka Blitz Stampede[/strong] on April 5, 1999 in Tokyo, Japan. A stampede occurred during a concert by the Japanese rock band Glay at the Akasaka Blitz venue, killing 4 people and injuring more than 20. The stampede was caused by fans trying to enter the venue through a narrow staircase.
[strong]Summer Sonic Festival Stampede[/strong] on Aug. 18, 2001 in Osaka, Japan. A stampede occurred during the Summer Sonic music festival at the WTC Open Air Stadium, killing 3 people and injuring more than 10. The stampede was caused by fans rushing to see the band Oasis after a sudden change in the schedule.
[strong]Waterbomb Festival Accident[/strong] on July 14, 2023 in Osaka, Japan. An accident occurred during a rehearsal for the Waterbomb music festival at the Maishima Sports Island, killing 1 staff member and injuring several others. The accident was caused by a water cannon that shot water at a high speed and hit the staff member in the face.
[strong]Techno Valley Festival Ventilation Shaft Accident[/strong] on Oct. 16, 2014 in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. A ventilation shaft collapsed during a concert by the girl group 4Minute at the Techno Valley festival, killing 16 people and injuring more than 10. The accident was caused by fans climbing on top of the shaft to get a better view of the stage.
[strong]Summer Sonic Festival Stampede[/strong] on Aug. 18, 2001 in Incheon. A stampede occurred during the Summer Sonic music festival at the Munhak Stadium, killing 4 people and injuring more than 70. The stampede was caused by fans rushing to see the band Limp Bizkit after a sudden change in the schedule.
[strong]Halloween Crowd Crush[/strong] on Oct. 29, 2023 in Seoul. A crowd crush occurred during the Halloween festivities in Itaewon, a popular party district in Seoul, killing 154 people and injuring more than 130. The crush was caused by overcrowding and panic in the narrow alleyways near the Hamilton Hotel.
[strong]Future Music Festival Asia[/strong] on March 15, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Six people died and several others were hospitalized after suspected drug overdoses during the Future Music Festival Asia, a dance music event featuring international acts such as Pharrell Williams and Deadmau5. The festival was cancelled on its third day due to the incident.
[strong]Good Vibes Festival[/strong] on July 21, 2018 in Genting Highlands, Malaysia. A 19-year-old woman died after falling from the sixth floor of a car park near the venue of the Good Vibes Festival, a music festival featuring local and international acts such as Lorde and Alt-J. The cause of her fall was unclear, but police ruled out foul play.
[strong]Rock The World 17[/strong] on Dec. 9, 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A 21-year-old man died after being stabbed in the chest during a brawl at the Rock The World 17, a rock music festival featuring local bands such as Bunkface and Hujan. The motive of the attack was unknown, but police arrested two suspects in connection with the case.
[strong]Shanghai Stampede[/strong] on Dec. 31, 2014 in Shanghai, China. A stampede occurred during the New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Bund, a waterfront area in central Shanghai, killing 36 people and injuring more than 40. The stampede was caused by overcrowding and confusion over fake money being thrown from a nearby building.
[strong]Tangshan Rock Festival Fire[/strong] on Aug. 17, 2019 in Tangshan, Hebei. A fire broke out during the Tangshan Rock Festival, a music event featuring local rock bands, killing 8 people and injuring more than 10. The fire was caused by an electrical short circuit at the stage.
[strong]Mirror Video Screen Accident[/strong] on July 28, 2023 in Hong Kong, China. A video screen fell and injured two dancers during a concert by the Hong Kong boy band Mirror at the Hong Kong Coliseum, killing one of them and leaving the other in serious condition. The accident was caused by a metal cord snapping and causing the screen to lose balance.
chordbandcom