Unimaginable tragedy has struck longstanding German music festival Love Parade, with 18 party-goers killed in a stampede at the entrance to the event. The death toll also continues to rise, with more than 100 people seriously injured at the free festival with an estimated attendance of anywhere between 500,000 and 1.5 million people (news reports vary widely).

Taking place in the West German city of Duisberg, dance fans from across Europe made the trek to the festival with its large lineup featuring the likes of Tiesto, Boys Noize and Booka Shade. Originating in Berlin, it moved to Duisberg in 2007 after continued disagreements with authorities in the German capital. Tragedy struck this year’s festivities when attendees attempted to gain access through a tunnel connected to the parade area.

“It was hell,” 21-year-old attendee Karl Lowenstein told Telegraph.co.uk. “The tunnel was dark, it was full. Something happened – whether someone tripped or someone fell I don’t know. But there was a stampede to get to the other end and those who fell… well, many of them never got up again.”

Fearing further chaos if the event was brought to a close immediately following the disastrous incident, authorities have received criticism for allowing the party to continue with many in attendance unaware of the catastrophe happening elsewhere. In addition ambulances attempting to help the injured were hampered in access by the sheer number of people.

It’s hard to imagine something so horrifying happening at an event that started out 20 years ago as a celebration of peace, and comes as an even bigger tragedy for the international scene following the gruesome events at Electric Daisy Carnival in Los Angeles recently. Our hearts go out to anyone effected by the tragedy.