International Nightlife Association: The tragedy at Colectiv in Bucharest was perfectly avoidable

“The tragedy at Colective in Bucharest and so all others, were perfectly avoidable, and this is our conclusion,” according to an official press release of the International Nightlife Association.

“As we have been emphasizing these last two years (since the fire at Kiss nightclub in Brazil that killed 232 people in 2013) fireworks in the interior of nightclubs should be strictly prohibited. As a matter of fact, the security seal that we presented just one month ago during the 2nd International Nightlife Congress in Ibiza, among other security requirements, prohibits the use of fireworks in the interior of a nightclub. On the other hand, all the materials like ceiling, decoration and other elements have to be fire-resistant, otherwise they become lethal when they get in contact with fire and most of the attendants die due to asphyxia as it tragically occurred in Brazil two years ago (Kiss nightclub with 232 dead) and in Argentina 11 years ago (Cromagnon nightclub with 190 dead),” says the Association.

The International Nightlife Association states that “due to tragedies like the one that just occurred in Bucharest, the whole worldwide nightlife industry’s image gets deeply and unfairly damaged.”

“People may think that nightclubs are not safe, which is not true, so we strongly insist on the necessity that all nightclubs worldwide, with their respective governments help, implement the International Nightlife Security Seal in order to guarantee party goers safety. This seal would act as an international security license or certification. Each country or city has different security rules and it’s impossible for a traveler or a tourist to know in advance if the venue meets or exceeds international security standards. Thanks to our Security seal, it will be possible for all tourists and party goers to know in advance if the venue is considered safe or not. As an example, we can mention that some of the requirements checked to gain access to the certificate are the following: clearly lighted emergency exits, flame retardant and fire-resistant structure, construction, decorative elements and furnishings, smoke detectors, trained security personnel, fire extinguishers checked regularly and other instruments to ensure the safety of attendants,” according to the association.

Maurizio Pasca, vice-president of the International Nightlife Association and president of the European Nightlife Association, has asked for the involvement of the community and governments of different countries. “We need the governments support in order to expand this security seal that we have been implementing worldwide with inspections done by the security certifying company ICDQ. We are working together with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and making contacts with a lot of governments worldwide and I also intend to ask Brussels for cooperation in this serious matter since we are talking about lives and also about a very important and serious economic industry,” according to the press release.

The International Nightlife Association and the European Nightlife Association have expressed support for the Romanian authorities in his investigation. They also stated: ” we announce that, concluding the investigation, we are studying to charge the venue’s owners with homicide since we think that it was a complete lack of prudence to use fireworks in the interior of the club and we also find unacceptable that only one exit was working and it had no emergency exit. We do this to acknowledge all the venues who provide a safe nightlife experience. And of course to honor the patrons, and present our sincerest condolences to all the families who lost their loved ones in the fire at Colectiv in Bucharest,” according to the press release.

Other devastating fires in clubs across the world

According to the press release of the International Nightlife Association, “since 1940, 33 fires have occurred in nightclubs around the world, registering a total of 3.780 mortal victims. The latest one happened only three days ago in Bucharest (Romania) with a provisional toll of 31 deaths (ed. update: death toll rose to 32 in the meantime) when, we already had in mind the one happened two years ago in Brazil (Kiss Nightclub in Santa Maria), where 231 people were killed. The more severe tragedy was in 1942 at the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub in Boston (USA), with 491 fatalities. This is the result of the data gathered by the International Nightlife Association. These are fires with mortal victims in nightclubs and party halls that could have been avoided if our Nightlife Safe international security and safety standards were implemented,” says the Association.

23/04/1940: 198 killed in party hall Natchez, Mississippi (USA).
28/11/1942: 491 killed in “Cocoanut Grove” nightclub, Boston (USA).
01/12/1970: 146 killed in “Cinq sept” club Saint Laurent de Pont (France).
13/05/1972: 116 killed in nightclub, Osaka (Japan).
03/08/1973: 53 killed in Douglas Club, Isla de Man (United Kingdom).
03/11/1974: 154 killed in party hall, Seul (South Korea).
28/05/1977: 164 killed in “Beverly Hills” Cabaret, Southgate, Kentucky (USA).
10/10/1978: 25 killed in Caracasnightclub (Venezuela).
22/11/1980: 84 killed in Casino Gran Hotel MGM,Las Vegas (EUA).
14/02/1981: 49 killed in “El Stardust” nightclub, Dublin (North Ireland).
17/12/1983: 82 killed in “Alcalà 20” nightclub, Madrid (Spain).
14/01/1990: 43 killed in “Flying” nightclub, Zaragoza (Spain).
23/03/1990: 87 killed in “Happy Land” nightclub, Bronx (EUA).
27/11/1994: 234 killed in nightclub, Fuxin (China).
17/02/1995: 67 killed in Taichungkaraoke(Taiwan).
18/03/1996: 152 killed in “Ozone“nightclub, Manila (Philippines).
30/1071998: 63 killed in “Macedonia Association”,Gothenburg (Sweden)
20/10/2000: 20 killed in “Lobohombo” nightclub,Mexico DF (Mexico)
27/12/2000: 320 killed in Luoyang nightclub (China).
20/07/2002: 29 killed in “Utopia” nightclub, Lima (Peru).
12/10/2002: 202 killed in Bali nightclub (Indonesia).
30/10/2002: 100 killed in Ho Chi Minh party hall (Vietnam).
01/12/2002: 47 killed in “La Guarija” nightclub, Caracas (Venezuela).
20/02/2003: 100 killed in “Station“club, West Warwick, Rhode Island (USA).
09/07/2003: 3 killed in Punta Arenas nightclub (Chile).
30/12/2004: 193 killed in “República Cromañón” nightclub Buenos Aires (Argentina).
27/11/2006: 9 killed in “Yersey” nightclub, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic).
19/04/2008: 19 killed in “Factory” nightclub, Quito (Ecuador).
02/01/2009: 60 killed in Bangkok nightclub(Thailand).
04/12/2009: 156 killed “El cavall coix“ nightclub, Perm (Russia).
25/08/2011: 52 killed in Casino Royal, Monterrey (México).
27/01/2013: 231 killed in “Kiss” club, Santa Maria (Brazil).
30/10/2015: 32 killed in “Colectiv” club, Bucharest (Romania)