Fire engulfed a popular nightclub in the Romanian capital Saturday, sending 38 people to hospitals for treatment including one who was seriously injured. No deaths were reported.
The fire erupted in the early hours at the upmarket Bamboo nightclub, which was burned to the ground.
Some people suffered from smoke intoxication, while others were injured as they reportedly leapt from the upper level of the lakeside club to escape the flames.
There was no word on the cause of the fire. There were unconfirmed reports that people were smoking at the club, which is illegal. Prosecutors have opened an inquiry.
About 20 ambulances rushed to the scene as revelers ran outside. Bogdan Oprita, coordinator of the capital’s ambulance service, said most of the injured were suffering from smoke intoxication. Others who rushed outside without picking up their coats suffered hypothermia in the -12 Celsius (10 Fahrenheit) cold.
Senior emergency situations official Raed Arafat said one person was seriously injured and that almost half of the injured went to hospitals on their own. About half a dozen remained hospitalized.
In October 2015, 64 people died at a fire at a nightclub in Bucharest the worst fire in the country’s history.
Bamboo has several clubs in Romania, and one in Miami, Florida. It first opened in Bucharest in 2002 and was rebuilt after it was destroyed by a fire in 2005.
