Serbia nightclub fire kills 6
April 1, 2012
A fire broke out in a nightclub in Serbia early on Sunday, killing six people and injuring four as police investigated the venue's owner for possible criminal violations.
Serbian police chief Milorad Veljovic told reporters that the fire in the northern town of Novi Sad was likely due to a short-circuit near the stage during a live performance.
About 300 people were in the club at the time of the fire around 2:30 a.m. The six victims, three men and three women between the ages of 21 and 29, reportedly died of suffocation as they tried to flee the spreading flames.
Serbian officials said the owner of the Contrast club was detained. Investigative judge Ana Stamenic said 50 people were taken in for questioning, and the state was considering charges of "causing general danger" against the owner.
"This is a great tragedy," Novi Sad mayor Igor Pavlicic told reporters. "The wounds of past tragedies in Novi Sad have yet to heal, and now we have another."
In 2007, three died in a fire at the Putnik hotel in Novi Sad. The next year a fire in the city's Lounge cafe killed eight people.
Pavlicic said the club had carried out a fire drill recently and authorities regularly checked it for safety regulation compliance. He proclaimed three days of mourning starting on Monday.
acb/ipj (AFP, AP, Reuters)