November 7, 2015 UPDATE

Eight people died in hospital care on Saturday, raising the death toll of the Colectiv fire to 40.

Vlad Palcu, 07.11.2015, 20:32

COLECTIV (UPDATE) – Another eight people who sustained injuries and burns in the Colectiv nightclub fire passed away on Saturday, raising the death toll to 40. Another 48 people are in critical condition. So far several skin-grafting surgeries have been made, while in some cases doctors were forced to operate to clear the patients airways. Two planes of the Mobile Emergency Service for Resuscitation and Extrication (SMURD), transported two patients in critical condition to Vienna, Austria, where they will receive specialised treatment.

Interim Prime Minister Sorin Cimpeanu has said that several countries in Europe have offered to help Romania, by either taking in patients or sending medical teams to Bucharest. The Romanian official added the Government would cover the costs of transporting and hospitalising patients and a member for each family abroad.

In another move, the former mayor of Bucharest District 4, where the tragedy occurred, Cristian Popescu-Piedone has been detained, being charged with abuse of office and forgery. He is being accused of having issued operation permits for the clubs functioning in spite of the fact that its owners did not get the approval of the Department for Emergency Situations beforehand.

The clubs three owners have been taken into pre-trial custody on suspicion of aggravated manslaughter and involuntary bodily harm. The firm contracted to ensure the pyrotechnics show at Colectiv on the night of the tragedy is also being investigated, its owners having been arrested.

Also on Saturday, interim Prime Minister Sorin Cimpeanu said only 7% of schools in Romania have been greenlighted for functioning by the Department for Emergency Situations.