At least 26 people died and nearly 100 were injured in Bucharest on Friday after an explosion sparked a fire in a nightclub in the Romanian capital.
Government officials confirmed the death toll, which could still rise. More than 400 people were in the Colectiv club for an album release for the metal band 'Goodbye to Gravity,' according to the band's social media pages.
A witness told Reuters that fireworks inside the club led to an explosion, with the subsequent fire climbing up a pillar and into the club's ceiling. Members of the emergency services were shown on TV attempting to resuscitate young people that had been dragged out of the club,
"There was a stampede of people running out of the club,"
a second witness told Reuters. The government announced an investigation into the incident had already been launched. Romanian President Klaus Lohannis said he was "shocked" by the news. Writing on his Facebook page, he said: "It is a very sad moment for all of us, for our nation and for me personally."