Argentina Club Fire Kills at Least 174

[AussieMark]

Argentina Club Fire Kills at Least 174

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - A fire swept through a crowded Buenos Aires nightclub during a rock concert, killing at least 174 people and injuring more than 410 as young concert-goers scrambled for the exits, officials said Friday.

The blaze broke out late Thursday and the building in the Argentine capital quickly filled with smoke, setting off a stampede for the emergency exits, witnesses said. Television images showed the bodies of youngsters curled up on the sidewalk as bystanders and shirtless teenagers carried people out of the smoldering building.

"People were pushing and jumping over each other trying to get out," one concert-goer, Jose Maria Godoy, told The Associated Press. "It was like a human wave. As people fell down running for the door, others just simply ran over them or pushed them down."

City officials said it wasn't immediately clear what caused the fire, but several witnesses said they saw a flare hit a foam lining on the roof of the concert hall, triggering a fire.

"Someone from the crowd tossed a flare and there were immediately flames," said Fabian Zamudeo, a 22-year-old in the crowd to see the Argentine rock band, Los Callejeros.

"Parts of the roof started falling down in flames and people started running, knocking over the speakers and light stands," he added. "People were choking on smoke and I tried to push as many people out as I could."

Alfredo Stein, an official in the Buenos Aires health department, told reporters at least 174 had been killed and more than 410 people injured.

Many of the dead died from smoke inhalation, said Mariano Tili, a Buenos Aires city official helping in the rescue effort.

Hundreds of bystanders and relatives stood outside the building as rescue workers carried the wounded away on stretchers. Others could be seen treating the injured on the street in front of the Republica de la Cromagnon disco in the Argentine capital, which is popular with teenagers.

Rescue workers turned a nearby parking lot into a temporary morgue, lining up dozens of bodies as parents rushed to the club looking for their children.

As firemen battled the flames, some kids — many dazed and covered in soot — lingered outside the building after rushing out, shouting out the names of friends, hoping to find them.

Streets outside the nightclub in downtown Buenos Aires were lined with stray pairs of tennis shoes and strewn with blackened clothes — remains of a chaotic scene that saw hordes of people pushing their way out of the building.

An unidentified youngster told the TodoNoticias television network that the heavy smoke quickly filled up the concert hall.

"We could barely see there was so much smoke," he said. "People were kicking the doors down trying to get out."

Argentine media reported as many 1,500 people were believed to have been in the building at the time, with some saying the amount could be almost twice as much.

The fire was the worst in South America since a blaze swept a Paraguayan supermarket in August, killing 399 people in an Asuncion suburb. Authorities later said the doors were ordered shut by the store's owners to prevent looting, trapping people inside.

A nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I., killed 100 people and injured hundreds in February 2003. Authorities said the blaze began when sparks from a band's pyrotechnics ignited highly flammable foam that was used in the club as soundproofing.

[Miss Mary]

I immediately thought of the tragic Rhode Island fire but I see it's mentioned near the end of this article. I remember looking for exits when I would frequent a large facility, nightclub or not, after the RI fire. This recent tragedy is just a reminder, always know where your exits are. And if you know of a business with faulty materials, such as this foam ceiling, report it. Very sad this happened again.

Mary

[Brent]

The Stampede reminds me of the Chicago nightclub incident which happened just a week or two before the Rhode Island fire. It was something involving a rush to the exits though, not a fire.

[Miss Mary]

Brent - I remember that tragedy now that you mention it. Both came a week apart in 2003.

Locally, we had a severe fire at a nightclub, on May 28, 1977. Happened at the Beverly Hills Supper Club - most patrons were couples (20s on up). A few older children - teens, having dinner and taking in John Davidson's show later on. 165 people died and there was a stampede in this tragedy/fire. Not enough exits were open - some doors were padlocked shut. Heavy drapes, thick carpeting, many materials that emited fatal gasses when inhaled. Beverly Hills caught fire b/c of faulty, substandard aluminum wiring.

Mary

[Guest]

I immediately thought of the tragic Rhode Island fire but I see it's mentioned near the end of this article. I remember looking for exits when I would frequent a large facility, ...

Mary

At my city's 18,000-seat sports/concert arena downtown, they always have the text on the jumbotron before the event indicating to do this that, check the nearest exit in case of emergency evacuation.

[TexasStooge]

Not another one!!!

[The Big Dog]

I never thought I would do this, but ever since the Rhode Island fire, I look for emergency exits whenever I'm in crowded nightclubs. Sometimes, I even look to see that they are not chained or otherwise locked shut. I saw Great White here in Florida 12 days before the Rhode Island fire, and it makes you wonder what if.

[Miss Mary]

I never thought I would do this, but ever since the Rhode Island fire, I look for emergency exits whenever I'm in crowded nightclubs. Sometimes, I even look to see that they are not chained or otherwise locked shut. I saw Great White here in Florida 12 days before the Rhode Island fire, and it makes you wonder what if.

I for one am glad you still do this. After the Beverly Hills fire in 1977, Cincinnatians did the same thing. I did for years but then you grow complacent. But we should all do this. Scary that you saw Great White just 12 days before the tragic fire. Can I ask if they used pryrotecnics (sp?)?

Mary

[The Big Dog]

I never thought I would do this, but ever since the Rhode Island fire, I look for emergency exits whenever I'm in crowded nightclubs. Sometimes, I even look to see that they are not chained or otherwise locked shut. I saw Great White here in Florida 12 days before the Rhode Island fire, and it makes you wonder what if.

I for one am glad you still do this. After the Beverly Hills fire in 1977, Cincinnatians did the same thing. I did for years but then you grow complacent. But we should all do this. Scary that you saw Great White just 12 days before the tragic fire. Can I ask if they used pryrotecnics (sp?)?

Mary

Nope, no pyro. The club owner said on the local news that the band asked him about it, he said no, and that was that, and the band was ok with it. That makes me doubt all the other club owners who were reporting that the band used pyro without permission.

I remember the references to the 1977 fire after Rhode Island. To tell you the truth, I've grown a little complacent, too. So now it happens again, and I'm reminded to do better.

[Miss Mary]

I just read an article in today's paper about this fire - concert goers smuggled in fireworks - the band didn't intentionally want them set off. So that puts an entirely different spin on it doesn't it? At least the band won't be liable. I also read that 13 children are in critical condition, b/c of a makeshift daycare in the women's bathroom! From accounts of children being in there, to patrons bringing in fireworks and setting them off, to the club being 4 times packed beyond capacity, the club owners seem liable to me. Then you have the wired shut exit doors.....

A disaster waiting to happen. I think you are very wise to check out any club you freqent big dog and I will too from now on. Even if you've grown complacent, we all do I suspect, this latest fire will just remind us all - know where your exits are. And if a facility seems poorly run (this latest club tragedy sure sounds that way to me), just don't go in there. Wait until the band plays elsewhere, if possible.

Mary