Blaze destroys upscale Lima night club, killing 25 people

Associated Press | July 20, 2002

[HAL9000]

LIMA, Peru (AP) -- In Peru, at least 25 people died and 100 were injured early today in a fire at an upscale, unlicensed night club in Lima.

The blaze was started by bartenders who were doing tricks with fire. Customers fueled the fire by trying to put out the flames with their alcoholic drinks.

A lion and tiger -- part of a show that included live animals in cages -- also died.

The fire prompted calls for a crackdown on businesses that disregard safety regulations, a common practice in Peru.

One survivor says bartenders were launching plumes of fire into the air by spraying aerosol cans and lighting the jet of gas. He says others were igniting lines of alcohol poured along the bars.

The blaze came just months after 274 people died in Peru's deadliest fire ever when a fireworks explosion in late December devoured four blocks of downtown Lima.

[Registered]

Talked with Jim Bowers a few weeks ago. Very interesting to hear from him first hand his experience with the Peruvian Government and our State Department.

[VadeRetro]

A lion and tiger -- part of a show that included live animals in cages -- also died.

That's a shame.

[Paul Atreides]

Well, that takes care of the Janet Reno Dance Party World Tour.

[HAL9000]

I would hope for some changes in the ways those governments operate after his tragic experience - but I suspect it's back to business as usual.

[Registered]

The Peru Government has 2 pilots in jail even though the greenlight to shoot down the plane came from a General (who was calling in on a cell phone from the beach). He said lots more, I'll try to FReepmail you this week.