It is now the 19th years anniversary of the Ozone Disco tragedy but still no justice for the victims.
The Ozone Disco Club fire in Quezon
City, Philippines broke out shortly before midnight at 11:35 pm Philippine Standard Time, March 18, 1996 leaving at least 162 people dead and at
least 92 people injured. It is officially acknowledged as the worst fire in
Philippine history, and
among the 10 worst nightclub fires in the world. During the time of incident
there was an estimated around 350 patrons and 40 club employees inside Ozone
Disco, though it had been approved for occupancy for only 35 persons. Most of
the club guests were high school and college students. Some survivors reported seeing sparks
flying inside the disc jockey's
booth shortly after midnight, followed by smoke which they thought was part of
the party plan of the DJ and then flames broke out, engulfing the place and
caused the mezzanine's collapse.
Most of the bodies were discovered along the corridor leading to
the only exit, piled up waist-high. Quezon
City officials were quoted as saying that the club's emergency exit was blocked
by a new building next door, and
that there was no proper fire exit installed. It
was also reported that the exit had been locked from the outside by the club's
security guards, who had thought that a riot had taken place.
