At least 13 killed in Peru nightclub crush as police raid clandestine party

By Marco Aquino

 

People react outside a clinic where injured people were taken after police raided a nightclub for hosting a party in violation of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions, in Lima, Peru, August 23, 2020. REUTERS/Angel Taipe

 

LIMA (Reuters) - At least 13 people were crushed to death or asphyxiated as partygoers tried to flee a Lima nightclub after it was raided by police for hosting a party in violation of coronavirus restrictions.

 

Fifteen of the 23 people detained by police who broke up the clandestine party on Saturday night tested positive for COVID-19, President Martin Vizcarra said.

 

At least six others were injured, including three police officers, as around 120 people tried to escape the Thomas Restobar club in Lima's Los Olivos district on Saturday night as police arrived to break up the event, which neighbors had reported, national police and government officials said.

 

The partygoers had become trapped between the only entrance door, which was pushed closed in the chaos, and a staircase leading to the street, police said.

 

Government officials clarified on Sunday that the 13 victims were 12 women and one man between the ages of 20 and 30, after initially reporting the victims as 11 men and two women.

 

Only seven of the victims had been identified by Sunday afternoon, officials from the Interior Ministry said.

 

Peru ordered the closure of nightclubs and bars in March and banned extended family gatherings on Aug. 12 to fight what is Latin America's second highest COVID-19 infection rate, according to a Reuters tally. A Sunday curfew is also in effect.

 

The club's owners, a married couple, were detained, the Interior Ministry said.

 

Representatives of the nightclub were not immediately available to comment.

 

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that police did not use tear gas or firearms in the raid, after some family members of victims told local radio station RPP that officers used tear gas at the scene.

 

Vizcarra condemned the club's owners and said similar clandestine events were common, and posed a serious threat to public health.

 

"I have sorrow and I have sadness for the people and relatives of the people who have died, but I also have anger and indignation for those who were irresponsible by organizing this type of event," Vizcarra said at a public event on Sunday. "Please reflect, let's not lose more lives due to negligence."

 

The 60 police officers who participated in the raid were also being tested for coronavirus, officials said.

 

Peru had recorded a total of 585,236 coronavirus cases as of Saturday, double the number reported on July 2, while the known death toll has risen to 27,453.

 

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Chizu Nomiyama)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-24

 

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Young people doing what young people do. RIP.

why can't police let people enjoy themselves rather than murder other people

4 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

why can't police let people enjoy themselves rather than murder other people

Huh?! They murdered themselves! First of all, they weren’t supposed to be partying and secondly, no one told them to flee! It’s completely their fault! The cops just showed up and did their job! 

Another instance where the cure imposed is worse than the disease. This is the age of people that seldom die from Covid-19.  Sixty police for a raid? A couple in a car with flashing lights would have shut the place down.

Edited August 24, 20205 yr by IAMHERE

I spent a few nights in that particular barrio with a brichera friend of mine.  She found a Swiss victim to marry her - her master plan worked and she's now living the single life in Madrid.  

Troll post reported and removed.   The name of the virus is Covid-19.

 

16 hours ago, webfact said:

which neighbors had reported,

Wonder how they are feeling about doing that now...

 

Genuinely not saying they did anything wrong, but I know I’d feel like <deleted> if I was the one whose report led to this raid and subsequent tragedy. 

A horrible tragedy. But the rate of positive tests in the survivors is really eye opening.