Loveparade Tunnel in Duisburg becomes a place of silence and compassion

Many people gather under the bridges, some of them directly affected, others coming out of sympathy. Five days after the terrible accident with 21 dead and more than 500 seriously injured so far, so many memorial candles have been lit under the bridges and so many thoughts have been read that it is impossible to grasp them all. In the almost endless number of candles, which spread a strong smell of wax and a lot of warmth, you can see the sadness, anger, hatred, powerlessness and compassion of the people. There are posters everywhere with outbursts of anger against the mayor and those responsible. Sometimes it is words of warning, poems or simply loving thoughts that comfort you.

When I was there today with my colleague Julian, I was also touched by the silent sadness of the many people offering their condolences. Hardly a word was spoken. A team from the Tagesschau interviewed a woman on site, but that too was only heard very quietly. Emergency chaplains from the Duisburg fire department were on site to assist the people. The road under the bridges itself is cordoned off and is lined with candles even before the tunnels. The residents certainly didn't think that their walls would become a kind of vigil.

This is how the roaring party turned into a quiet memorial site. In the middle of the tunnel there is a book of condolence on display, in front of which a long queue of people waiting patiently gathers. A very sad silence that spreads. Many of the people cry along with their children. For me it is difficult to imagine that cars will ever use this tunnel again. Ideally, the tunnel should always look like it does today and should always be a reminder of poor organization, overconfidence and the danger of large crowds. It would also be a good way to thank the people who helped on this memorable day.

A poster thanks all the ravers who kept their nerve in the tunnel and didn't cause any major panic. Hundreds more people would have died, says the author. She was present and that was the only way she survived.

I think it's a shame that the Love Parade won't take place again. Together with my friend Frieder, I am of the opinion that the Love Parade would be a great celebration in the future to commemorate the victims, for the social community, freedom of expression, the freedom to allow such celebrations to take place and to simply have fun. Hopefully this possibility doesn't die with the dead.

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