Survivors of a deadly nightclub fire and stampede in Romania said the soloist of the heavy metal band on stage at first made a joke about the fire before it engulfed the basement club in downtown Bucharest.
Hundreds of young people had gone clubbing at the Colectiv nightclub on Friday night to enjoy a free concert by the Goodbye to Gravity metal band. The evening ended in horror, as the inferno caused a panic that left at least 27 people dead and 180 injured. As of press time last night, at least 146 people were still hospitalized across the capital, many with serious injuries and authorities feared the death toll could rise further.
Raed Arafat, an emergency situations official, said that 17 of those who died still had not been identified and he feared that others would die of their injuries.
Photo: EPA
TV stations posted a number for families to call to find out about the tragedy, the worst of its kind in Romanian history.
Witnesses told Antena 3 TV that between 300 and 400 mostly young people had been at the club, housed in a former factory, when a pyrotechnical show went awry.
The witnesses said there was only one exit. Club-goers told Digi 24 television that a spark on stage ignited polystyrene decor. Photographs posted on social media appeared to show a flame emanating from a pillar covered in foam insulation as those in the audience applauded the band.
American International School of Bucharest teacher Delia Tugui, who was at the concert with her husband and son, said clubgoers were taken by surprise at how fast the fire grew and they panicked as it spread.
“The soloist made a quick joke: ‘This wasn’t part of the program.’ The next second, he realized it wasn’t a joke and asked for a fire extinguisher,” she said on Facebook.
“In 30 seconds ... the fire spread all over the ceiling. People rushed to the entrance, but it was too narrow, and people panicked. Behind me people stampeded, climbing over each other, to try and get out... Friends were looking for each other under the pile of people. Asking ‘Is it you? Where are you? I can’t see you. Is that your arm?’ ... I realized that those on the other side of the bar would not get out alive,” she wrote.
Florentina Dinca, 38, who lives opposite the nightclub, told reporters there was chaos as emergency workers tried to help the badly burned club-goers.
“They were very frightened, they screamed, ambulances didn’t know what to do... Girls had their hair burned, they had burns on their faces,” she said.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis visited injured people at the Floreasca hospital in Bucharest and tried to comfort survivors and relatives.
He said most of the injured were unconscious and in serious condition.
He also promised an inquiry into the blaze to prevent future disasters.
“I visited burns patients from last night’s tragedy. I spoke to a patient’s mom. People are disgusted that such a thing could happen and I hope we manage to have results of the inquiry as soon as possible and to change norms so that things like this never happen again,” he said.
Prosecutors said they are investigating possible manslaughter charges.
Police spent all night in the club investigating the incident and questioning the club’s owners.
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