Police in Hanoi are investigating the death of seven people who died of suspected overdoses while attending a musical festival last weekend, with preliminary information showing that the victims tested positive for drugs.
The incident happened at an EDM (electronic dance music) concert themed ‘Trip to the moon’ at the Ho Tay Water Park in Tay Ho District on Sunday night, the municipal Department of Police confirmed during a press meeting on Monday.
The event started at 7:00 pm and the victims began showing heath problems at around 10:30 pm.
A total of 12 people were admitted to the Bach Mai Hospital and K Hospital that night, of whom seven passed away while the other five are still in a coma.
The victims are between 17 and 30 years old, and had consumed drugs prior to the incident, according to police.
Officers found several ‘laughing balloons,’ which contain nitrous oxide, and a type of pill which could possibly be synthetic drugs, at the venue.
Police are conducting further examinations to determine the type of drug that the victims had consumed and whether or not the victims belonged to the same group of friends.
Police will also look into how they brought the drugs to the concert.
Legal procedures are expected to be carried out against those responsible once the investigation concludes.
Following the case, officials in the capital decided to temporarily ban all music festivals.
'Trip to the moon' was an EDM festival with performances by four DJs from the Netherlands and Northern Ireland.
Ket Noi A Chau Company was granted a permit by the municipal Department of Culture and Sports to organize the event, expected to attract a crowd of 5,000.
According to Do Anh Tuan, chairman of the People’s Committee in Tay Ho District, managers of the Ho Tay Water Park were in charge of ensuring order and security at the event, which was stated in their contract with Ket Noi A Chau Company.
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