23 People Killed After Fire Breaks Out at Popular Nightclub

A devastating fire at a popular nightclub in Goa, India, killed 23 people after a gas cylinder exploded, authorities said.

The blaze broke out around midnight on Sunday, Dec. 7, at Birch by Romeo Lane, a club in Arpora village near Baga Beach, one of the region’s most popular coastal destinations. Many of the victims were club staff working in the kitchen, while several tourists were also among those who died.

Goa’s Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, called the incident “a very painful day for all of us in Goa” and confirmed the death toll on social media. “Three to four tourists are among the dead,” he said, adding that three victims died from burn injuries while the rest died from suffocation. At least three of the victims were women.

Police said the fire started when a gas cylinder exploded, quickly spreading in the ground-floor kitchen area. Goa’s Director General of Police, Shri Alok Kumar, said two bodies were found on a staircase, and all victims’ bodies have now been recovered. He confirmed the fire is now under control.

The tragedy has prompted an official inquiry. Sawant pledged on social media that anyone found responsible would face the “most stringent action under the law” and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.

Goa, India’s smallest state, is famous for its beaches, nightlife, and scenic coastline. It attracts millions of tourists each year, making this disaster especially shocking to locals and visitors alike.