An illegal ‘rave’ brings together thousands of hippies from all over Europe in a disappeared town of Zamora

More than 2,000 people, the majority of hippie aesthetics and arrivals from other European countries, have already gathered at an illegal musical party or “rave” that takes place on the banks of the Almendra reservoir in the Zamorano municipality of Salce, next to the disappeared town of Argusino that was drowned under the waters of the swamp 55 years ago. The Civil Guard, which has deployed thirty patrols in the area, has counted some 750 vehicles in the field and estimates that more than 2,000 people may have gathered. The festival , which lacks any authorization for its celebration, includes a main stage and four other smaller ones, as well as food and drink stalls, and has surprised the riverside towns of the Zamora shore of the Almendra reservoir. surprise to the State security forces and bodies, which have had to request reinforcements from outside the province so that the Civil Guard can carry out control tasks in the area , monitor the area with drones, establish alcohol and drug controls and prevent access to more vehicles. Access cut from Friday Until Friday afternoon, when the Civil Guard cut off access to the place, they had arrived at that illegal festival between 1,200 and 1,400 people, many of them in motorhomes, caravans and vans. Among the attendees, attendees from central and northern European countries predominate, many of them arriving in family groups even with young children and with a hippie vibe. The call for this “rave” was not carried out massively through of social networks as has happened with other illegal parties, but the dissemination was made only through a closed Telegram group. This has caused the agents to show their bewilderment when the first trucks arrived with the stage assembly equipment on Thursday. On Friday, with the start of the stage installation and the massive arrival of vehicles, the first controls were established. and from mid-afternoon the main road access to the area was cut off, although some chose to use alternative routes or park a little further away and go on foot to the stages. Rubén Gómez, mayor of Salce, the municipality to which the land belongs to the concentration, he explained to EFE that among the neighbors there is mainly curiosity about what is happening and not so much concern. He has also detailed that the comments of the majority is that the chosen place is the most suitable in the municipality, as it is an isolated site that does not cause noise disturbance to the neighborhood, despite the fact that night noise can be heard in the distance. For his part, the mayor of Villar del Buey, José María Nieto, explained to EFE that the attendees have not yet approached the surrounding towns, which is why he has assumed that they arrive with enough provisions and drink not to leave the field on the banks of the reservoir where the illegal party takes place. Music sounds without schedules The noise from the music, which sounds without schedules, is not a problem either because the towns are located far from the place of the celebration. However, Nieto has expressed the restlessness and concern of the residents of the area for fear that a fire may break out. Also from the Government Sub-delegation in Zamora they have alluded to the risk that an illegal party of these characteristics entails, which lacks insurance, supervised security measures or an evacuation plan in the event of a mishap.