At least 25 killed in nightclub fire in Goa, India

At least 25 people were killed and six others injured after a fire broke out on the night of December 6 to 7 in Goa, a coastal state in southwest India, officials said on December 7.

Goa’s chief minister, Pramod Sawant, confirmed the death toll on social media, adding that an investigation has been ordered to determine the cause, Caliber.Az reports per Indian media.

The fire erupted in Arpora village in North Goa, tearing through a nightclub identified by several Indian media outlets as Birch by Romeo Lane. Neither the club nor local police were immediately available for comment.

Footage aired by domestic media showed intense flames engulfing a section of the building, with thick smoke pouring into the night sky.

Michael Lobo, a member of Goa’s legislative assembly, said at the scene that some of the victims were tourists, while others were employees working in a restaurant basement inside the club.

Chief Minister Sawant said the six injured individuals were in stable condition as of Sunday morning.

Goa, once a Portuguese colony, is one of India’s most popular tourist destinations, known for its beaches, nightlife and art scene. The state recorded more than five million visitors—mostly domestic tourists—in the first half of this year.

By Khagan Isayev