All news

Prosecutors expose violations in Yekaterinburg club

The nightclub's exits were blocked with litter and the club had no evacuation plans

YEKATERINBURG, October 19 (Itar-Tass) — Sverdlovsk region prosecutors exposed numerous violations of fire safety rules in the Yekaterinburg's nightclub "Gold" which had been inundated with scalding water.

"The nightclub's exits were blocked with litter and the club had no evacuation plans. A case of administrative offense was opened against the nightclub's director general after a prosecutor's check," the press service of the regional prosecutor's office said on Wednesday.

The case was opened over violations of fire safety rules, the prosecutors added, noting that the "Gold" administration regularly ignores compliance with fire safety rules.

In late 2009 and early 2010, prosecutors checked "Gold" as part of the sweeping inspection for compliance with safety requirements.

The checks began after the tragedy at the Khromaya Loshad (Lame Horse) nightclub in Perm, where a fire had claimed the lives of 156 people.

At that time, inspectors found that "Gold" used flammable finishing materials to renovate the exits and a refrigerator was blocking one of them. Prosecutors of Yekaterinburg's Oktyabrsky district then suspended the operation of the club. The latest check showed that the violations had not been completely eliminated.

On Sunday night, a hot water pipeline ruptured in Yekaterinburg, and the water began to inundate the adjacent areas. The trouble zone included the "Gold" club. Nightclub visitors scrambled to avoid scalding water by climbing on car roofs. Rescuers evacuated 450 people with 1st and 2nd decree burns. A criminal case was opened over the utility accident.