Oktoberfest Chaos: 300,000 Stranded in Overcrowding
Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, saw chaos on the middle Wiesn Saturday when overcrowding left 300,000 visitors unable to move. Confusing announcements and emergency calls to police ensued. The event returned to normality the next day after opening late due to a bomb threat.
The incident occurred during the table reservation change in the late afternoon or early evening, when the main entrances of the large tents are usually closed. Visitors without reservations had little chance of entering the tents during this time. The overcrowding led to a standstill, with people unable to move forward or backward.
The incident has prompted organizers, including Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter and Commissioner Christian Scharpf, to promise faster reactions to such crowds in the future. They aim to prevent similar congestion. However, their initial handling and communication were criticized.
Oktoberfest returned to its usual festivities the day after the overcrowding incident. Organizers have committed to quicker responses to overcrowding, learning from the chaos that left thousands stranded. Visitors are advised to plan their visits accordingly, especially during reservation change times.
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