Romanian fire: 2 teens, bassist die; death toll hits 51
A man wears a pig mask holding a banner that reads “The Romanian political class – Some pigs” during the fifth day of protests in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, calling for better governance and an end to corruption, in Bucharest, Romania. AP
BUCHAREST, Romania — Two Romanian teenagers who were burned in a deadly nightclub blaze in Bucharest have died in British hospitals, bringing the tragedy’s overall death toll to 51.
Elena Beatrice Gagos confirmed the death of her friend Vladut Roberto Andy on Wednesday — his 19th birthday. The St Andrews Center for Burns and Plastic Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, also confirmed his death.
The A. D. Xenopol high school in Bucharest said Wednesday on its Facebook page that student Elena Nitu, 18, had died in a hospital in Liverpool late Tuesday.
READ: Romania nightclubs: We were reckless, risked patrons’ lives
Both teens had been transported by a NATO plane to Britain for specialized treatment for burns sustained in the Oct. 30 fire.
Alex Pascu, the bass guitarist of the Goodbye to Gravity heavy metal band which was playing when the fire broke out, also died Wednesday. The 33-year-old was transferred from a Bucharest hospital to Paris Wednesday in an interior ministry plane to be treated for his burns, but died after the plane landed.
The band’s drummer and two guitarists have all died from their injuries. The only surviving member is lead singer Andrei Galut.
In a separate development, the former mayor of the Bucharest district where the basement Colectiv nightclub was located, Cristian Popescu Piedone, was released Wednesday by authorities along with two others. He had been held in custody with two town hall employees on charges of abuse of office and granting authorization for the club despite the fact it did not have a fire permit.
READ: Romanian PM quits over club blaze, but protesters unsatisfied
Authorities say 76 people remain hospitalized in Bucharest after the fire, 24 of them in serious or critical condition caused by burns. Another 29 people are being treated in foreign hospitals for burns.
