[Herald Economy=Reporter Na Eun-jung] An attempt to make the world’s longest beef sandwich in Avellaneda, a city in southern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, ended in chaos after hundreds of people climbed over safety fences and stormed the site.
Local outlets including Philo News reported on the 26th (local time) that Parrilla El Tano, a barbecue restaurant in Avellaneda, held the event the day before to celebrate Argentina’s Revolution Day and the restaurant’s 25th anniversary. The goal was a single sandwich stretching 750 m (about 2,461 ft).
Organizers set up the event across seven city blocks, and a notary was on site to certify the record.
The project used about 1.5 metric tons (about 3,307 lb) of beef, 1,050 specially made loaves of bread, and 7,500 eggs. The plan was to give the finished sandwich away for free to more than 7,000 people.
The event began around 11 a.m., but as cooking and serving fell behind schedule, tensions grew. By 4 p.m., with no food being served, the crowd’s patience snapped. Some people climbed over the safety fences and rushed into the event area.
Videos posted on social media show people knocking down fences and grabbing sandwiches straight off the tables. Serving effectively stopped, and many who had waited patiently left empty-handed.
The restaurant thanked attendees on social media but lamented, \”Everything collapsed at the last moment, leaving a bitter ending.\” It also said some participants took event equipment and supplies.
Organizers said the project had been months in the making and called the incident disrespectful to the staff who worked on site and to the people who waited in line.
Organizers reported the sandwich reached about 771 m (about 2,530 ft) on the day, but some local outlets said crowds began taking portions right after the 700 m (about 2,297 ft) certification, which halted the final verification.
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