Several tourists among at least 23 killed in blaze at Goa nightclub | India
At least 23 people died in a fire at a popular nightclub in the Indian resort city of Goa, authorities said.
According to the Press Trust of India, many tourists were among those killed in a fire that broke out around midnight at a club in Arpora in North Goa district.
Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant wrote to X: “Today is a very sad day for all of us in Goa. A major fire incident in Arpora claimed the lives of 23 people.”
“I have visited the scene and ordered an investigation into this incident. Those found responsible will face the strictest sanctions under the law; any negligence will be dealt with harshly,” he added.
Sawant told reporters at the scene that “3 to 4” tourists died. He said three people died due to burns, while the others died due to suffocation.
Goa, a former Portuguese colony on the Arabian Sea, attracts millions of tourists every year with its nightlife, beaches and laid-back coastal atmosphere.
Fires are becoming common in India due to poor building practices, overcrowding and non-compliance with safety regulations.
Local media, citing police officials, stated that the fire was suspected to have broken out as a result of a “cylinder explosion”, but further investigation was required.
PTI quoted local legislator Michael Lobo as saying that firefighters and police participated in rescue efforts throughout the night.
Lobo added that authorities will conduct fire safety inspections in similar places to prevent similar incidents from occurring.
In May, at least 17 people died in a fire that broke out in a three-storey building in Hyderabad, India.
A month ago, a severe fire broke out in a hotel in Kolkata and at least 15 people died. Some citizens climbed onto the roof from the windows to escape.
In 2024, at least 24 people died in a fire at a packed amusement park in the western state of Gujarat. At the time, officials attributed the high number of deaths and injuries at the arcade to a lack of proper safety standards, stating that people were trapped when a temporary structure collapsed near the entrance to the facility.
