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The deadly crush of fans was blamed on lack of crowd control
at the concert of popular performer Indio Solari in the town of
Olavarria, in Buenos Aires province.
Solari halted his performance several times, calling from the
stage for security to help people who were stuck in the stampede
and appeared to be fainting.
Some 350,000 fans showed up for the concert, Mayor Ezequiel
Galli told a news conference. He said the event had been
organized to handle less than half that number, and that it
would be up to the justice system to decide who is to blame for
the disaster.
"What happened was total chaos," he said. "It just got away from
us."
"No one imagined that this many people would show up," he added,
saying that by mid-afternoon some 100,000 vehicles, or one for
every city resident, had arrived for the show.
A dozen people were hospitalized after being injured in the
crush. Witnesses said the lack of control was such that
organizers neglected to collect tickets at the large field where
the concert was held, letting anyone through the gates.
The local bus system collapsed after the tragedy, stranding
thousands of fans in Olavarria.
(Reporting by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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