Nine in hospital after suspected drug overdoses at Festival Hall dance party

A paramedic attends to a partygoer on a stretcher with an oxygen mask.

Nine people have been taken to hospital after suspected drug overdoses at a dance party at Melbourne's Festival Hall.

Emergency services were called to the famous venue at 11:00pm on Friday, and eight partygoers were treated by paramedics in a first aid area at the venue as a ninth person collapsed nearby.

All nine were taken to various hospitals including the Royal Melbourne, St Vincent's, The Alfred and the Western Hospital in Footscray, where they were all reported to be in a serious condition.

They had attended the I Am Hardstyle event, an electronic dance festival which travels to cities across Europe and South America.

Ambulance Victoria's state health commander, Paul Holman, said partygoers needed to think before dabbling in drugs.

"Clearly these drugs are circulating now around the system," he said.

"Clearly they're dangerous

"We've still got a big weekend of celebrations going on at a number of dance parties.

"Don't take these drugs, they will kill you."

A crowd of people outside Festival Hall.

Victorian Greens MP Colleen Hartland, who has been campaigning for pill testing to be made available at festivals and dance parties, said the overdoses once again highlighted the need for such a service.

"People are going to continue to die or be seriously injured," Ms Hartland said.

"This also puts a massive strain on hospitals and ambulances."

Police are investigating.

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