Mayor of Argentinian capital announces step until new drug laws in place after Time Warp festival left five people dead from overdoses and more in hospital

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

The government of Argentina’s capital has stopped issuing permits for major electronic music festivals in response to the death of five people who overdosed at a party.

Several people die of suspected drug overdoses at Argentine music festival Read more

The Buenos Aires mayor, Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, said the measure would remain in effect until the city legislature approved a law to prevent drug abuse during such events.

Authorities have said five people died of drug overdoses during the Time Warp festival on 15 April. Another four were taken to hospital critically ill.

Witnesses said that festival-goers were often offered designer drugs including ecstasy pills, doses of LSD, marijuana, poppers and cocaine. Five people have been arrested.

Time Warp began in Germany in 1994 and was being held in Buenos Aires for the third year.