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Stringer / Reuters
Members of a forensic team carry the body of a victim of a fire in Novi Sad, about 50 miles north of Belgrade, April 1.
Three young women and three young men were killed in a fire that tore through a packed nightclub in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad overnight, police said on Sunday.
Police said the fire appeared to have started in the stage area of the Contrast nightclub during a live performance shortly after 2 a.m. local time (7:00 p.m. ET Saturday)
The victims, who were in their early 20s, most likely choked to death after locking themselves in the toilets of the club to escape the fire, the head of the interior ministry's emergencies department, Predrag Maric, told state television.
Some 300-350 people are believed to have been in the club at the time.
Investigative judge Ana Stamenic said 50 people had been taken in by police for questioning, including the owner of the club, and that prosecutors were considering charges of "causing general danger."
Novi Sad mayor Igor Pavlicic said the club had only recently carried out a fire drill and was regularly checked for compliance to safety regulations.
In 2008, eight people died in a fire in the Lounge cafe in Novi Sad and three died in a fire at the city's Putnik hotel the previous year.
"This is a great tragedy," Pavlicic told reporters. "The wounds of past tragedies in Novi Sad have yet to heal, and now we have another."
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
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Hmmm. Very sad for these girls' families but wonder why they didn't get the hell out of the building like the other 300+ people? Maybe they were the last ones and were cut off from the exit by the fire?? A little more info would be helpful.
In the USA I think we call it death by smoke inhalation
I was thinking the same thing. Not sure what they would choke on in a bathroom (cue the gross comments), unless it was smoke inhalation.
Wow, to be plucked from life, on a Saturday night, at a Gala event, B4 or after, I guess it doesn't really matter,from smoeone elses' blunder. After seeing his brother on TV, I see it is Gay Bashing. Most peoples' blunders need help to avoid. The time is now. Give praise or roose to He that you adorn. It's still not gonna tell you when the grim reaper knocks.
The firestarter says, holding a full tray of flaming shots, 'Who's going to be the flaming ash ole and not have a shot', just B4 tripping. Don't let this or anything else make you want to Gay Bash a person, white, Black, or indifferent. Thank-you for not being IIII B8.
WTF-what's that,forbate.........IIII-jail
Effeminate can be a family trait and complements finesse..........Got manners?
WTF-watch those fingers