Measures in the aftermath of the Bucharest nightclub fire
The tragedy at the ‘Colectiv club in Bucharest, on Friday night, has brought to surface serious legislative flaws.
Corina Cristea, 02.11.2015, 13:20
Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis has called on the responsible authorities to conduct a serious and effective investigation into the tragedy at the ‘Colectiv’ club in Bucharest, which ended in a staggering number of casualties. The head of state has also called on authorities to take the necessary measures and make sure that such tragic events will never happen again. President Klaus Iohannis:
“We are no longer allowed to tolerate the incompetence of some authorities, the inefficiency of some institutions, and we can no longer allow corruption to spread and kill. Each and every one of us must act responsibly, like active and accountable citizens, who know when and how to take action, together, because they care about the country and society they live in.”
Prime Minister Victor Ponta has called for an urgent control plan targeting all the clubs, restaurants and other entertainment facilities in the country, to prevent such events from occurring again. Inspectors have already started to conduct large-scale control operations in restaurants, clubs, cinema halls and malls, which usually host events, to see whether they observe the legal functioning conditions. These control measures are precautionary, and documents are verified to see if the owners have got the necessary licenses authorizing them to host shows that involve the use of pyrotechnical and flammable substances.
The measures have been taken as the tragedy at the ‘Colectiv’ club has raised many questions as to the way in which authorities allow such facilities to function. Witnesses to the disaster have said that the materials used to ensure the sound insulation at the club were not fireproof, and there was nobody there to organize the evacuation, as the law dictates. Cristian Soricut, a specialist in the field, has told Radio Romania:
“The first measures concern the building as such. It must be done with fireproof materials, the facility must have proper access ways, and the building or modernization license actually must be issued on the basis of these requirements. Secondly, it’s a matter of organization. Also, security in case of fire is a major thing. Here we can talk about fume exhaust systems, alarm system, fire extinguishers.”
Fire prevention legislation will become harsher. The State Secretary with the Interior Ministry, Raed Arafat, has said that people in charge were working on changing the legislation when the tragedy occurred, and that just a few papers are yet to be issued for the law to be enforced. He has explained that fees are not enough to make club owners take all the necessary measures and, in the future, those who will not have the necessary documentation might face criminal charges and their facilities will be closed down.
