An indoor fireworks display turned deadly during a metal show in Romania last night (October 30), with a fire killing 27 concertgoers and injuring 184 others.
The tragedy took place at Bucharest's Colectiv nightclub, which was hosting a free show from local metal outfit Goodbye to Gravity. According to reports, a fireworks display went awry and caused a fire onstage, which then spread across the ceiling and throughout the club.
A witness told Reuters: "A pillar covered with foam panels and the club's ceiling went up in flames and then there was an explosion and heavy smoke."
Panic spread through the crowd, with many attendees said to have been trampled as people were stampeding towards the only exit. A door on the second floor was broken down during the escape. Sadly, 27 showgoers did not make it out alive.
The Romanian government has called for three days of mourning in the wake of the tragedy.
Deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat told the media that a fire permit had not been requested by the club, nor was one granted to them by the local fire department.
An event listing on the Colectiv nightclub's Facebook page explained that the free show had been a record release party for Goodbye to Gravity. The show had been advertised as featuring pyrotechnics. The band have not yet made a statement in regards to last night's events.
Update (11/01 12:45 p.m.): Reports have surfaced that Goodbye to Gravity guitarists Vlad Telea and Mihai Alexandru are among the dead, vocalist Andrei Galut is in serious condition after receiving burns to 45 per cent of his body, and bassist Alex Pascu has gone through emergency surgery.
The tragedy took place at Bucharest's Colectiv nightclub, which was hosting a free show from local metal outfit Goodbye to Gravity. According to reports, a fireworks display went awry and caused a fire onstage, which then spread across the ceiling and throughout the club.
A witness told Reuters: "A pillar covered with foam panels and the club's ceiling went up in flames and then there was an explosion and heavy smoke."
Panic spread through the crowd, with many attendees said to have been trampled as people were stampeding towards the only exit. A door on the second floor was broken down during the escape. Sadly, 27 showgoers did not make it out alive.
The Romanian government has called for three days of mourning in the wake of the tragedy.
Deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat told the media that a fire permit had not been requested by the club, nor was one granted to them by the local fire department.
An event listing on the Colectiv nightclub's Facebook page explained that the free show had been a record release party for Goodbye to Gravity. The show had been advertised as featuring pyrotechnics. The band have not yet made a statement in regards to last night's events.
Update (11/01 12:45 p.m.): Reports have surfaced that Goodbye to Gravity guitarists Vlad Telea and Mihai Alexandru are among the dead, vocalist Andrei Galut is in serious condition after receiving burns to 45 per cent of his body, and bassist Alex Pascu has gone through emergency surgery.
