Two die of alcohol, drugs at Istanbul EDM festival

ISTANBUL

Two people have died and three others have been hospitalized after consuming drugs and alcohol during an electronic music festival on Aug. 6 in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul, while police arrested three people suspected of providing drugs to the victims. 

19-year-old Tugay Ergin and Gökhan Alataş, who were among five hospitalized during Life in Color Festival, lost their lives due to drug and alcohol consumption, according to their initial autopsy reports. Another hospitalized festivalgoer, identified as S.S., was reported to be in critical condition. 

The Sarıyer Police Department along with the Istanbul Narcotics Police detained five people suspected of selling drugs to the victims after investigating the victims’ telephone contacts. 

Three of the five suspects were later arrested, while two were released pending trial.