Rio de Janeiro experienced record-breaking temperatures on November 17, 2023, as the Brazilian summer reached a deadly peak. The heat rose to 102.4°F (39.1°C) during the day, with an apparent temperature (temperature and humidity combined) of 138°F (59°C). This spelled disaster for the thousands of fans who were queuing up to see Taylor Swift's Eras Tour show that evening. A 23-year-old fan named Ana Clara Benevides Machado had taken her first-ever flight from another region of Brazil to see her favorite artists, sharing her excitement at every step of the trip in her family WhatsApp group. Like many others, she queued for hours in the blazing heat to get the best possible positions inside the venue. Many reported that the stadium felt like a "sauna" as soon as they got inside. Benevides reportedly felt unwell before the show even began and was taken to the first-aid center. She was then moved to a hospital in Rio where she sadly passed away an hour later.

Learning of Benevides' death after the show, Swift took to social media. "I can't believe I'm writing these words but it is with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show," she wrote. "I can't even tell you how devastated I am by this." As temperatures remained dangerously high in Rio, and with two more concerts to go, Swift announced that she had decided to postpone Saturday's show. She explained that, "The safety and well being of my fans, fellow performers, and crew has to and always will come first."

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Astroworld tragedy -

Travis Scott's yearly Astroworld festival took a tragic turn on November 5 2021 when a crowd of 50,000 people rushed towards the stage as his performance was about to begin, crushing those trapped at the front. Reports from those engulfed in the crowd say that they were crushed against the front barriers by the masses of people surging behind them. Many struggled to breathe and lost consciousness in the mess, unable to escape. Hundreds required medical attention afterward and ten young people lost their lives. The majority of the victims were in their early twenties, but there were also several minors.

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Astroworld tragedy -

Though Travis Scott denied any knowledge that the crowd was in distress during his hour-long interview shared one month after the incident, he announced on Instagram that he has been working on a multi-tier initiative targeting youth and ranging from scholarships, mental health resources, a creative design center, and, of course, event safety. "Over the past few months I’ve been taking the time and space to grieve, reflect and do my part to heal my community. Most importantly, I want to use my resources and platform moving forward towards actionable change. This will be a lifelong journey for me and my family," he wrote, adding, "as a leader in my community, I need to step up in times of need." The rapper added that he and his team created Project HEAL "to take much needed action towards supporting real solutions that make all events the safest spaces they can possibly be." He also said, "I will always honor the victims of the Astroworld tragedy who remain in my heart forever." Scott will not face criminal charges for the deaths but both he and Live Nation are the subject of hundreds of civil suits brought by survivors and the families of the victims.

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GloRilla -

Three people died following a concert featuring rappers GloRilla and Finesse2tymes in Rochester, NY on March 4, 2023. The show had ended around 11 pm, after which false fears of a shooting sent the audience into a stampede toward the exits. A 33-year-old woman, Rhondesia Belton, was killed, and hours later the Associated Press announced a second concertgoer, 35-year-old Brandy Miller, also died from her injuries. “I’m just now hearing about what happened,” the Grammy-nominated GloRilla tweeted late March 5, “praying everybody is ok.” Eight other attendees were hospitalized with injuries after the concert. Sadly, it was reported on March 9 that a third woman, 35-year-old Aisha Stephens, had succumbed to her injuries. “I am devastated & heartbroken over the tragic deaths that happened after Sunday’s show. My fans mean the world to me. Praying for their families & for a speedy recovery of everyone affected," GloRilla wrote on Twitter. The exact cause of the crowd surge is still unclear, but neither of the night's performers are being blamed for the incident.

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The Weeknd -

Tragedy occurred on the first stop of The Weeknd's 'After Hours til Dawn' tour. Police confirmed that a 32-year-old man died after falling off an escalator rail at the July 14, 2022, show in Philadelphia. The concert took place in a massive football stadium called Lincoln Financial Field. The man was reportedly sitting on the rail and slipped, falling 40 feet (12 meters) to the ground where he suffered severe head trauma. He was rushed to hospital but sadly passed away that night. Police said that the fall appeared to have been accidental.

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Nearly 200 killed in Buenos Aires -

Callejeros, an Argentinian rock band, were scheduled to perform at the República Cromañón in Buenos Aires on December 30, 2004. However, tragedy struck the event.

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Nearly 200 killed in Buenos Aires -

A pyrotechnic fire ignited decorations inside the building, leading to a ferocious fire. 194 people died in the fire, with over 700 injured. Some emergency exits were chained shut that night.

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Rival crews clash at T.I.'s concert - In 2016, rival crews clashed at a T.I. concert at Irving Plaza in New York, with deadly consequences.

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Rival crews clash at T.I.'s concert - Shots were fired before T.I. took the stage, leaving three injured and one dead. The feud was apparently between rappers Troy Ave (left) and Maino (right).

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Tragedy in Paris - The world was shocked back in November 2015, when ISIS took responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks in Paris.

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Tragedy in Paris - One attack took place at the Bataclan theater, where an Eagles of Death Metal concert was taking place. 129 were killed, while over 350 were injured.

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The Manchester attack - Another attack that no one saw coming, an Ariana Grande concert was attacked by terrorists in May 2017.

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The Manchester attack - One terrorist detonated a homemade bomb as concertgoers were leaving the Manchester Arena. 23 people died, and 139 were wounded.

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Terror in Las Vegas - In an act that shocked the world, the 2017 Route 91 Harvest music festival ended in tragedy, becoming the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

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Terror in Las Vegas - Steve Paddock opened fire at the festival crowd, killing 58 people and leaving over 850 injured.

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The Damageplan tragedy - A Damageplan concert was struck by tragedy in December 2004. The concert, which took place in Columbus, Ohio, was attacked by gunman Nathan Gale.

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The Damageplan tragedy -

Gale shot up the Alrosa Villa club, killing band member Darrell Lance Abbott. Three others also died in the attack, including a fan, a club employee, and a member of security.

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Chaos in Cincinnati -

A Who concert in Cincinnati turned chaotic back in 1979. Fans broke a venue door down, and stampeded towards the stage.

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Chaos in Cincinnati - Eleven people were killed in the concert tragedy. Future concerts from Aerosmith and Blue Oyster Cult were canceled as a result.

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The Beverly Hills Supper Club fire - One of the deadliest nightclub tragedies ever, the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire occurred back in 1977. It was an event headlined by John Davidson. 3,000 people were in the building at the time of the fire, with 165 fatalities and more than 200 injured.

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Altamont: the end of the 1960s -

Altamont was an explosive event in the history of rock music that's still remember more than 50 years later. The Rolling Stones headlined the concert.

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Altamont: the end of the 1960s - Fights broke out throughout the free concert, and a man was stabbed to death, which features in the documentary 'Gimme Shelter.'

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Deadly stampede at Roskilde -

The Danish Roskilde Festival ended in disaster back in 2000. Pearl Jam was performing at the time of a deadly stampede.

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Deadly stampede at Roskilde -

Nine people died in the incident, and Pearl Jam cancelled the remainder of their tour out of respect.

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Mayhem at Mawazine - The Mawazine Festival takes place in Rabat, Morocco. In 2009, over one million people attended the event.

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Mayhem at Mawazine -

A stampede ensued after a set from Abdelaziz Stati, with fans rushing for the exits. 11 people died in the event, but the event still returned in 2010.

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Disaster at The Station - Back in 2003, a tragedy struck The Station nightclub in Rhode Island. Great White were playing a gig, which quickly turned into disaster.

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Disaster at The Station - A fire erupted from the band's pyrotechnics, and staff reportedly tried to put it out with cups of water. 100 people died in the fire, including band member Ty Longley, with 230 people injured.

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A riot at Metallica and Guns 'n' Roses - It was a billing like no other, but one Metallica and GNR concert went horribly wrong. It started when singer James Hetfield (center right) was burnt by an exploding prop.

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A riot at Metallica and Guns 'n' Roses - After that, Axl Rose postponed his set after having vocal problems. Thousands of fans were agitated, and rioting ensued. Rioters and police officers were injured, but thankfully no one died.

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Sexual violence at Woodstock -

At the 30th anniversary of Woodstock, two women were violently sexually assaulted during a Korn set.

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Sexual violence at Woodstock - More sexual assaults were reported during Limp Bizkit's performance.

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Danger at Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa's concert - In 2016, disaster struck a Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa concert. At one point, the partition at New Jersey's BB&T Pavilion collapsed.

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Danger at Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa's concert -

Some concertgoers fell 10 ft (3 m) onto concrete, with over 40 people injured in the incident.

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Taylor Swift -

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Astroworld tragedy -

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Astroworld tragedy -

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GloRilla -

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The Weeknd -

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Nearly 200 killed in Buenos Aires -

Callejeros, an Argentinian rock band, were scheduled to perform at the República Cromañón in Buenos Aires on December 30, 2004. However, tragedy struck the event.

Getty Images

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Nearly 200 killed in Buenos Aires -

A pyrotechnic fire ignited decorations inside the building, leading to a ferocious fire. 194 people died in the fire, with over 700 injured. Some emergency exits were chained shut that night.

Getty Images

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Rival crews clash at T.I.'s concert - In 2016, rival crews clashed at a T.I. concert at Irving Plaza in New York, with deadly consequences.

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Rival crews clash at T.I.'s concert - Shots were fired before T.I. took the stage, leaving three injured and one dead. The feud was apparently between rappers Troy Ave (left) and Maino (right).

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Tragedy in Paris - The world was shocked back in November 2015, when ISIS took responsibility for a series of terrorist attacks in Paris.

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Tragedy in Paris - One attack took place at the Bataclan theater, where an Eagles of Death Metal concert was taking place. 129 were killed, while over 350 were injured.

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The Manchester attack - Another attack that no one saw coming, an Ariana Grande concert was attacked by terrorists in May 2017.

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The Manchester attack - One terrorist detonated a homemade bomb as concertgoers were leaving the Manchester Arena. 23 people died, and 139 were wounded.

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Terror in Las Vegas - In an act that shocked the world, the 2017 Route 91 Harvest music festival ended in tragedy, becoming the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

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Terror in Las Vegas - Steve Paddock opened fire at the festival crowd, killing 58 people and leaving over 850 injured.

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The Damageplan tragedy - A Damageplan concert was struck by tragedy in December 2004. The concert, which took place in Columbus, Ohio, was attacked by gunman Nathan Gale.

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The Damageplan tragedy -

Gale shot up the Alrosa Villa club, killing band member Darrell Lance Abbott. Three others also died in the attack, including a fan, a club employee, and a member of security.

Getty Images

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Chaos in Cincinnati -

A Who concert in Cincinnati turned chaotic back in 1979. Fans broke a venue door down, and stampeded towards the stage.

Getty Images

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Chaos in Cincinnati - Eleven people were killed in the concert tragedy. Future concerts from Aerosmith and Blue Oyster Cult were canceled as a result.

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Altamont: the end of the 1960s -

Altamont was an explosive event in the history of rock music that's still remember more than 50 years later. The Rolling Stones headlined the concert.

Getty Images

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Altamont: the end of the 1960s - Fights broke out throughout the free concert, and a man was stabbed to death, which features in the documentary 'Gimme Shelter.'

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Deadly stampede at Roskilde -

The Danish Roskilde Festival ended in disaster back in 2000. Pearl Jam was performing at the time of a deadly stampede.

Getty Images

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Deadly stampede at Roskilde -

Nine people died in the incident, and Pearl Jam cancelled the remainder of their tour out of respect.

Getty Images

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Mayhem at Mawazine - The Mawazine Festival takes place in Rabat, Morocco. In 2009, over one million people attended the event.

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Mayhem at Mawazine -

A stampede ensued after a set from Abdelaziz Stati, with fans rushing for the exits. 11 people died in the event, but the event still returned in 2010.

Getty Images

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Disaster at The Station - Back in 2003, a tragedy struck The Station nightclub in Rhode Island. Great White were playing a gig, which quickly turned into disaster.

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Sexual violence at Woodstock -

At the 30th anniversary of Woodstock, two women were violently sexually assaulted during a Korn set.

Getty Images

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Sexual violence at Woodstock - More sexual assaults were reported during Limp Bizkit's performance.

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Danger at Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa's concert - In 2016, disaster struck a Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa concert. At one point, the partition at New Jersey's BB&T Pavilion collapsed.

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Danger at Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa's concert -

Some concertgoers fell 10 ft (3 m) onto concrete, with over 40 people injured in the incident.

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Concerts that ended in tragedy

Concerts that became disasters due to riots, fires, and terrorist attacks

13/11/24 | StarsInsider

MUSIC Concert disaster

Concerts are supposed to be a safe place where we can enjoy our favorite music. However, over the years there have been too many cases of tragedies at concerts. Whether it's a riot, fire, or terrorist attack, sometimes a gig is interrupted and chaos ensues. For example, last year, a young fan passed away at a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro. Sadly, this isn't the first time a fan has died at a show. To learn about other concerts that had similarly devastating ends, click through the gallery.