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View Full Version : Another mass hysteria tragedy


shemp
21st February 2003, 03:58 AM
54 Dead, Dozens Injured In Nightclub Inferno (http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/1995428/detail.html)

WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- A Rhode Island nightclub burst into flames during a pyrotechnics display at a rock concert, killing at least 54 people and injuring more than 100 as mobs of concertgoers frantically rushed to escape the raging fire.

Well, this time they had a better reason to run, but it seems a lot died again because of inadequate exits.

shemp
21st February 2003, 04:18 AM
To update this, TV reports indicate there were actually sufficient usable exits, but most people tried to get out the main exit and piled up there.

I saw a tape made by a local reporter who was there to cover the concert. It shows two large torches, one on each side of the stage, and you can see that the flames are too high and reach the ceiling. You can actually see the ceiling catch fire, but most of the crowd either don't notice right away or seem to think it's part of the show. The cameraman realizes it right away however, and quickly backs out of the crowd and out the door. There's no sound on the tape, so I don't know if he warned people as he was leaving, but I would hope he did what he could.