Anger builds as thousands march in Romania over nightclub fire

BUCHAREST (Romania) – More than 20,000 protesters marched through the Romanian capital, demanding that the government and local authorities resign in the wake of a deadly nightclub fire in which 32 people died.

The protesters have demanded the prime minister resign, alleging corruption had allowed the club to skirt safety regulations.

Protesters were still pouring into the streets late Tuesday evening, carrying banners saying “corruption kills” and chanting “murderers!”

The protest began Tuesday evening and grew larger as thousands joined the demonstration directed at Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Interior Minister Gabriel Oprea and a district mayor where the Colectiv nightclub was located.

Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis wrote on his Facebook page late Tuesday that protesters “are right, someone has to take political responsibility. The next step is for politicians, who cannot ignore this sentiment of revolt.”

The fire broke out on Friday night, when fireworks lit at a rock concert inside the Colectiv club set non-fireproofed insulation foam ablaze, triggering a stampede towards the single exit and trapping many of the roughly 400-strong audience inside.

Anger has been brewing for some time in Romania against the government, which many perceive as being corrupt, and Friday’s fire has added to the discontent. The protesters, who briefly scuffled with ant-riot police, were demanding that authorities punish people deemed responsible for the blaze, the deadliest of its kind in the country’s history.