Gate to Hell - in Memoriam DUISBURG 2010 by billcody
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Description
Dear friends,
hobby photography is an act of joy: I am a photographer - because I like it! Photography is fun, it is communication, it is talking about, it is everything of all and more!! Would we taking pics when it is boring?
But sometimes photography can show us the dark sides of our live - and maybe the end. This here is such a place - and that is the reason why I call it "The Hell`s Gate". Sad things happened here 16 days ago......
Please try to imagine:
At 24th July 2010, 16 days ago from now, in this street tunnel were nearly 30 000 people - yes, you read right - THIRTY THOUSAND people!
They were mostly very young, and they were on the way to the "LOVE PARADE", an open air event with merciless loud electronic dance music. They came in peace and happiness, full of joy for the biggest event in their young lives, they wanted to dance and to forget everything sad things in their lives for some hours. For some of them it was a march into death.
On top of the tunnel is an old damaged railroad yard: The so called "festival area". There is only one entrance, and the entrance is the exit, too, at the same time.... What a stupid idea! Far away, where the tunnel is devided, begins a ramp at the left side, the "entrance/exit"......
A LOVE PARADE is a BIG event (For example: In Berlin we had 1,5 million dancer in 2005:
At 16.30 A.M the tunnel was overcrowded, more than 100 000 people waited at both sides to get in, and others would go out. At the point where ramp and tunnel come together the situation escalated. The crowd panicked;
-21 young people came to death; 15 died here, the others later in the hospitals;
-570 young people were injured, most of them very heavy;
-10 000s of young people got a shock trauma...
People who alived told later: "This was the hell on earth" or "This must be war, I believe"
This pic here was taken at 29th July 2010, 8 days after this horrible accident. I will never forget the TV pics with this overcrowded tunnel, and I will not imagine the scenery at the boiling point.
Why I was here? A good question! I know this place very well, I pass by once a month with the ICE train. The ruins of the old railroad buildings on top were in my photographers interest since many months, I planned an "expedition" for a long time.....
With the fine pics of the Berlinian LOVE PARADE in my brain I was shocked when I heard that this dirty old place should be a "festival area"
Dear friends, your comments are welcome, even when the theme is so sad. The rating function is deactivated for this pic.
Have a nice weekend, whereever you live. Be careful!
billcody, Berlin
Comments (20)
bmac62
It looks so benign in your photo but overcrowding and tight spaces can produce panic and tragic outcomes. Thanks for your story and image. We all need to tell this story to friends and loved ones who could unwittingly fall into such an unintended trap someplace else.
billcody
@bmac62: Thanks for your nice comment! Working at this theme today brought up memories. I can`t believe that it is only 2 weeks ago and only one week, when I took a tram from Duesseldorf to Duisburg. People there were shocked, and we had a lot of talkings together, all strange people.
MOSKETON
MUY BUENA IMAGEN, DE ESO SE TRATA DE TENER MEMORIA FOTOGRAFICA, ES PERFECTA. GRAN TRABAJO.
Sea_Dog
A profound message from your photography. A very touching memory to those who died. I agree with bmac, it looks so benign and peaceful. Well done.
costapanos
touching tribute and what a tragedy at this event! Somebody was not thinking on how to handle an event of this size! Well done!
Charberry
So sorry to hear of the tragedy. We have strict regulations for public gatherings here, but perhaps in Germany too, but it sounds unavoidable. Requirements include a way out separate from the way in. Perhaps it is a learning experience, but many families are affected by this. They will be affected for a long time to come.
blinkings
A fitting tribute. I have been in a few crushing crowds in my time and can totally imagine how tragedy can unfold. Thanks for posting this.
dortygene
I thought of you when I heard the news of this tragic event. You have posted pictures in the past of celebrations in your country and seemed to enjoy it. I wondered if you might be there camera in hand. Thanks for posting this picture with no indication of what happened here. We all mourn when young lives are lost.
gchuck
Terrible! I had heard a report on the tragedy, but, it inferred that it all happened at ground level!
dochtersions
It seems worse when you really have been there. That you've seen the fear in the eyes of the people, and the panic. Wishing you strength.
ragouc
Good POV and shot. Very good tribute
Apple_UK
This is the first time I have heard of this tradgedy - it shows just how selective the media is - if it happens in another country it doesn't seem to matter to them. It does matter though so thanks for sharing.
jmb007
bel hommage!
lucindawind
that was so terrible ! it should have never happened ...
psyoshida
A huge unnecessary tragedy. I felt very sad when I heard about this on the news, but to see your photo of the place where it happened it makes the tragedy even worse. Such poor planning and callous disregard for the people that came for fun and music. We had a similar tragedy at a Who concert in 1979, 11 people were trampled to death. What a horror. Thank you for such a fine journalistic photo.
MagikUnicorn
Very nice shot of this Tragedy...
anmes
it was a huge tragedy...saw it on TV and was horrified. The panic, trauma, and large number of deaths and casualties .....terrible end for those young people who came for an evening's fun.
FriedaFelicia
Yes it is indeed at terrible thing that happened here and the worst part is that it possibly could have been avoided! Yet, I think you have taken a good urban shot here with a strong mood. Even if you discard the history of this place this photo is excellent.
moochagoo
Very sad. Very good tribute.
GARAGELAND
And no-one has been held resposible yet for this tragic day, the lord mayor is still in power, the chief of police has still got a job, & ect. ect. ect. R.I.P the victims