WEST WARWICK, Rhode Island, 22 February 2003 — At least 65 people were killed and almost 170 injured when a fireworks display at a rock concert triggered a massive blaze late Thursday at a crowded nightclub in Rhode Island, officials said.
Survivors said the fire spread so fast that the entire club in West Warwick was engulfed in flames within three minutes, as people crushed each other in a desperate attempt to escape the inferno.
While some victims were burned to death and died of smoke inhalation, Fire Chief Charles Hall told reporters in the northeastern US state that others were trampled to death.
By midday 65 bodies had been pulled from the charred premises, and that death toll could rise as high as 85, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri said.
“It may be higher because they are still pulling out ... parts of the building,” he told reporters. “You couldn’t have survived long in that building, if you look at what it looks like now.” The blaze apparently broke out during a pyrotechnic display at around 11 p.m. (0400 GMT Friday) for a concert by the 1980s hard rock band Great White at The Station nightclub. It was finally put out by 4 a.m. (0900 GMT).
Video footage shot inside the club showed clabbers initially watched the flames spread, believing they were part of the show.
When it became obvious that the club itself was on fire, panic erupted among the 250 clabbers packed into the venue.
“I was knocked on the ground and people were stamping on my back and on my head. I was holding my head up and thinking I’m going to die here,” said survivor Lisa Shea.
“People were hurt very bad, but you couldn’t see in front of you. Everything was black smoke and you could feel bodies on the floor,” Shea said.
