Four days after a Zedd performance in Boston was cancelled after one person died and others were hospitalized at the House of Blues, EDM culture is dealing with more drug-related problems.
The New York Mayor’s office announced this morning that the third and final day of the Electric Zoo Festival at Randall’s Island was cancelled after two concert-goes died from apparent MDMA overdoses. In a statement, pasted below, the city hade its recommendation to halt the fest and Electric Zoo organizers agreed.
This year’s Electric Zoo featured some major players in the EDM world, such as David Guetta, Avicii, and Benny Benassi.
The city has issued the following statement:
CANCELLATION OF ELECTRIC ZOO MUSIC FESTIVAL ON RANDALL’S ISLAND
Due to serious health risks, the Electric Zoo music festival on Randall’s Island on Sunday, September 1st has been cancelled. The City recommended cancellation and the event promoters have agreed.
During the first two days of the Electric Zoo music festival, two concert-goers have died and at least four others became critically ill and have been placed in intensive care at area hospitals. Definitive causes of death have not yet been determined, however, both appear to have involved the drug MDMA (ecstasy, or molly). The Electric Zoo organizers have worked with City officials to reduce health risks at this event, but in view of these occurrences, the safest course is to cancel the remaining day of the event.
Electric Zoo issued its own statement on its homepage and twitter:
The founders of Electric Zoo send our deepest condolences to the families of the two people who passed away this weekend. Because there is nothing more important to us than our patrons, we have decided in consultation with the New York City Parks Department that there will be no show today.
Electric Zoo has been cancelled today Sunday, September 1st. More information to follow.
— Electric Zoo (@ElectricZooNY) September 1, 2013
The founders of Electric Zoo send our deepest condolences to the families of the two people who passed away… http://t.co/8YO1vgoVse
— Electric Zoo (@ElectricZooNY) September 1, 2013