BUENOS AIRES: Judge Orders Closure Of All Nightclubs After Five Drug-Related Deaths At EDM Festival

The BBC reports:

A judge in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, has banned nightclubs from opening until they have set up proper health and safety systems. Two weeks ago five young people died and a further five were sent to hospital after taking the drug ecstasy at an electronic music event. The judge said city authorities should train up inspectors and security guards to police the clubs.

He said little had been done to control the consumption of drugs in clubs. Judge Roberto Gallardo said there was “a landscape of impunity and lack of state control with respect to nocturnal activities”. He said that the city government of Buenos Aires should establish a plan of action for its inspectors and police forces to enforce laws prohibiting the consumption in public of drugs.

The judge said he wanted to see a timetable of inspections and a plan of action “for the short-, medium- and long term.” Until this was done, he said, “all dancing to recorded or live music was banned until the order was carried out.”

More from Yahoo News:

It was not immediately clear how or if police would enforce the decree, which was issued after five young people died when taking what officials said was “toxic” drugs at an electronic dance music event two weeks ago in the capital.

“This is like, because there was a problem at the vegetable stand, we are going to order shut all butcher shops,” said Jorge Becco, head of the local disco owners’ association, after the ruling left the party people of Buenos Aires wondering if they might be arrested for dancing in clubs and bars. Becco said Judge Roberto Gallardo’s order shows “this guy is living in a shoe box.”

More from MixMag:

Following the five deaths of Time Warp Argentina attendees earlier this month, the brand behind the festival, Dell Producciones, is now under investigation.

Charges include facilitating a place to purchase controlled substances and negligence, with reports saying authorities have cited over 30 people involved with the incident.

Maximiliano Avila, the company’s attorney, and Carlos Maria Garat were brought into custody earlier this week and it’s been reported that the head of Dell Producciones, Adrian Conci, turned himself in yesterday.

Time Warp has released an official statement: “We are dismayed and deeply saddened by the death of five young people at Time Warp Buenos Aires. Our thoughts are with the relatives of the deceased and the five visitors who are still under medical treatment. We pray for their quick recovery.

RELATED: In 2013 then-NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg ordered the closure of Electric Zoo, a three-day EDM festival held on Randall’s Island, after two attendees died from drug overdoses on the event’s opening night. The event was allowed to resume the following year after organizers agreed to broadcast an anti-drug PSA several times a night.