An outdoor concert in South Korea on Oct 17 ended in tragedy after the cover of a ventilation shaft gave way, killing 16 concert-goers standing on it. Another 11 people were seriously injured when they fell more than 10m into the shaft.
The show featured popular all-girl K-Pop group 4Minute, and was held near a shopping mall in the Pangyo district, just south of the capital Seoul. Rescuers added the death toll might rise with some of the injured in critical condition. More than 700 people were believed to be attending the concert.
With large crowds fuelled by emotion, alcohol and sometimes drugs, concerts can sometimes be scenes of violence and death. We take a look at five other tragedies caused by the sheer number of people there.
Love Parade, Germany - 21 dead
When: July 24, 2010
Twenty-one people died and more than 500 were injured at the Love Parade techno music festival in Duisburg, Germany, which drew 1.4 million attendees. Overcrowding and a lack of sufficient entrances and exits led to a deadly crush as people tried to move through a tunnel. Panic led to a stampede in which people were trampled to death. The annual festival was cancelled for good after the incident.
A1 autograph signing, Indonesia, 2001 - 4 dead
When: March 18, 2001
Four teenage girls were crushed to death in Jakarta's Taman Anggrek shopping mall when a 1,500-strong crowd panicked while trying to catch a glimpse of the British boy-band. After the incident, the band cancelled the remainder of its Asian promotional tour
Roskilde Festival, Denmark - 9 dead
When: June 30, 2000
The festival's 28-year reputation for safety was blemished when nine Pearl Jam fans died after being crushed against the barriers at the front of the stage. The band desperately but unsuccessfully tried to tell people to move back.
Upon realising that his pleas were in vain, singer Eddie Vedder was said to have started crying. A four-month investigation cleared the band of any legal infringements, though they were still held morally responsible by the Danish police for allegedly inciting the crowd.
AC/DC concert, Utah - 3 dead
When: Jan 18, 1991
Three people were trampled to death by a sudden surge in the crowd as the Australian band began to play. Security guards near the stage struggled to reach the fans that had fallen as the band, unaware of the crush, played on.
The Who concert, Ohio - 11 dead
When: Dec 3, 1979
The British band was to perform, but a shortage of staff caused a delay that left 8,000 people outside the gates. A sound check by the support act led the waiting fans to believe that the show had already started. This prompted a mad rush to get in, which resulted in 11 fans getting quashed in the chaotic search for an open door.
SOURCE: SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS ARCHIVES
