Fire in crowded Caracas nightclub leaves 47 dead

At least 47 people died after fire broke out in an overcrowded basement nightclub on Saturday in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas.

Emergency exits at the tiny La Goajira nightclub were blocked, the Caracas fire chief, Rodolfo Briceno, said. "There were more people in the club than its capacity could hold. There were three or four hundred people there and a lot of thick, dense toxic smoke."

Rafael Chacon, 19, a student who lives opposite the club, witnessed the blaze. "They were climbing all over each other to get out. The flames were amazing. They were carrying out bodies all night." he said.

Relatives and friends gathered yesterday outside the charred club in the run-down heart of old Caracas as police began identifying the dead.

The blaze broke out just before midnight on Saturday. Brenda, 23, who worked at the club, said: "I smelt smoke and ran out. My best friend was left in there. I am going to look for her now at the morgue."

Mr Briceno said: "We have information that the flames spread quickly and the escape routes were blocked, contributing to the magnitude of the disaster. Firefighters were on the scene quickly but the fire had already taken hold. Eighty per cent of the dead were overcome by the smoke." The choking fumes spread to two small hotels in the same building, causing widespread panic. Eight people were taken to hospital with burns to their arms and faces.

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire. Theories include an electrical short-circuit or a carelessly discarded cigarette, but Mr Briceno said the blaze might have started in the kitchen.

Some reports said the fire broke out after a fight between patrons over a woman inside the nightclub.

Jairo Silva, a street trader, said: "This was a hell of a blaze. There was tons of smoke. Whoever was trapped inside got burnt. It was a miracle anyone escaped. The place was always full on Saturdays."

The number of people in La Goajira at the time of the incident almost certainly exceeded the legal limit. Firefighters complained that the owners of bars and clubs often ignored regulations.

"We cannot have a fireman stationed outside each club to see if they're sticking to the rules," Mr Briceno said. This was the second serious accident in Caracas in two weeks. On 18 November an explosion at an illegal fireworks stall killed three people.