Music Festival in Jakarta Suspended After Dangerous Overcrowding

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - - Berdendang Bergoyang is an Indonesian music event featuring many Indonesian popular musicians. This event cancelled after chaotic moments which led to some audiences lost their consciousness.

Berdendang Bergoyang Festival 2022 was planned to last for three days from Friday, October 28 until Sunday, October 30, 2022, at Istora Senayan, Central Jakarta. However, the last-day event was canceled due to some alleged violations.

Several facts came to light after Metropolitan Resort Police of Central Jakarta investigators examined the medical team on duty at the Berdendang Bergoyang Festival. The investigation took place on Monday evening (31/10/2022).

Chief of Metropolitan Resort Police of Central Jakarta Police, Komarudin, explained that based on the testimony of the medical team, it was found that many spectators fainted and were injured during the music festival.

The medical team in the area could not cope with the overcrowding. One medical member had to handle dozens.

"On average, they handle 25 to 30 people," he said when contacted on Tuesday (1/11/2022).

Komarudin admitted that his party had not got the detailed number of victims since it was still in the process of collecting data. 

Komarudin explained that investigators were exploring allegations of negligence committed by the responsible parties of the Berdendang Bergoyang music festival.

Komarudin said that police suspended the event because it was overcrowded and many audiences were in great danger.

"This is where we look for the element of negligence, how many are treated by the medical team, and how many posts are there," he said. The result of investigation will be used to decide whether there is a violation or not.

Another problem was the real number of the audiences.

Komarudin said the investigators found a discrepancy in the number of audiences. Referring to the application letter, the number of viewers reached three thousand.

However, according to a letter issued by the Department of Tourism and Creative Economy DKI Jakarta, the number of viewers was five thousand, and thus more people attended the event that originally reported by the organizer.

"Why does the number of tickets sold exceed what was submitted to us," he said.

In this regard, investigators asked for the testimony of two people as witnesses. They are "SA", the representative of event management, and "SH" who represents the production department.

However, the information will later be synchronized with the testimony of the ticketing team.

"Whether this ticketing team is working based on orders or based on their initiative. What is clear is that they admit that the amount submitted to us is different from the facts on the ground," he explained.

Emvrio Production as the promoter and organizer of the Berdendang Bergoyang Festival 2022 music concert has apologized for the cancellation of the event on the third day.

"We as the promoter of the Berdendang Bergoyang Festival 2022 event, namely Emvrio Production, with a heavy heart inform (you) that the festival event on the 3rd day on October 30, 2022, which will be held at Istora Senayan & GBK South Parking must be canceled," said Emvrio Production CEO Vino Sefvirrano through a written statement, which was received by the reporter, Sunday, October 30, 2022.

Once he announced the cancellation of the Berdendang Bergoyang Festival 2022 event on the third day, the promoter immediately conducted an internal evaluation.

They hope that the annual music event, which was held for three days, can be held without a hitch in the upcoming years.

"We as promoters apologize profusely for this incident, in the future, we will continue to make careful evaluations and preparations while still following procedures and prioritizing the safety and security of audiences," Vino added.

Writer: Adelina Wahyu Martanti.

Ady Anugrahadi contributed to this report.