Bucharest: 27 people killed in nightclub fire

In a fire that engulfed the “Colectiv” nightclub in Bucharest overnight, 27 people, mostly teenagers and young adults, were killed, officials said today, and more than 150 were admitted to hospital, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria.

Officials said the cause of the fire was fireworks set off inside the nightclub, and an investigation has been launched.

Witnesses said a spark from the stage ignited polystyrene decorations. The fire spread to one of the pillars and the ceiling of the club, followed by an explosion. At the time the fire broke out, 400 people were inside the club. Fire exits were apparently not functional, and the club is located in a building that once housed a factory.

The Romanian government declared three days of national mourning following the disaster, and messages of condolence are arriving for the Romanian president and authorities from countries in the region, as well as from the President of the European Commission.

Residents of Bucharest cannot recall such a tragedy, in which 27 young people lost their lives in just a few minutes.