Rave worries close access road to Vancouver Island beach

Roads leading to a popular Vancouver Island beach will be closed over the Victoria Day long weekend to prevent a "rave" party from occurring,according to B.C. Parks.

The area has attracted as many as 600 people during previous Victoria Day weekends, says Andy Macdonald, head of Protected Areas for the West Coast region of B.C. Parks.

"The gatherings have been such a size, we're talking hundreds of people, that it is beyond the capacity of local RCMP, park rangers and other authorities," he said. "We cannot control the unauthorized activities going on in the park."

Macdonald says past parties have led to assaults, theft, vandalism and overdoses.

While the access road and parking lot at Sombrio Beach will be closed from 6 a.m. Friday to 6 a.m. PT Monday, the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, including Sombrio Beach, is open to the public, with access roads at China Beach, Parkinson Creek and Botanical Beach.