8 dead, several injured at Astroworld Festival in Houston

Officials in Texas say at least eight people are dead and several others injured in a crowd surge at the Astroworld Festival

HOUSTON -- Officials in Texas say at least eight people are dead and several others injured in a crowd surge at the Astroworld Festival.

The surge broke out just after 9 p.m. Friday while rapper Travis Scott was performing, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña told reporters at a news conference.

“The crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage, and that caused some panic, and it started causing some injuries,” the fire chief said. “People began to fall out, become unconscious, and it created additional panic.”

The show was called off shortly after several people began suffering injuries.