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Fourth member of Goodbye To Gravity dies after Colectiv club blaze
By Chris Cooke | Published on Thursday 12 November 2015
Four of the five musicians performing when the Colectiv club in Bucharest caught fire last month have now died from their injuries. Goodbye To Gravity bassist Alex Pascu died yesterday as the death toll from the incident rose to 53.
As previously reported, a fire began at the Romanian nightclub after pyrotechnics set light to décor and, subsequently, the flammable materials that had been used to soundproof the building. Attempts by audience members to evacuate the premises were hindered because only one of two fire exits was open at the time.
The incident has fuelled political protest in Romania because of allegations that local officials took bribes from venue owners rather than enforcing health and safety regulations. Meanwhile, following the fire, the owners of a number of other club venues in the country have admitted that safety measures at their businesses were also insufficient.
It’s also emerged that the former mayor of the Bucharest district where the Colectiv club was located, and two of his former colleagues, have been questioned by police over allegations they gave authorisation for the venue to operate despite it not have the required fire permit. Cristian Popescu Piedone and the two other men have now been released from custody, but could still face charges of abuse of office.
Two members of the Romanian metal group Goodbye To Gravity – guitarists Mihai Alexandru and Vlad Țelea – died at the scene on 30 Oct. Drummer Bogdan Enache then died at the weekend. Frontman Andrei Găluț continues to be treated for the injuries he sustained during the blaze, one of 72 people still hospitalised as a result of the fire. Authorities say eighteen of those still being treated are in a critical condition.