The Gothenburg Discothèque Disaster | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror
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- Опубликовано: 5 июн 2024
- "On the 29th of October 1998 a fire began inside a community centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. That night the venue was supposedly hosting a birthday party for around 50 people…"
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TRANSLATIONS:
► This video is also available in German ( • Das Göteborg Diskothek... )
SOCIAL MEDIA:
► Twitter: / truehorrortales
► TikTok: / fascinatinghorror
► Suggestions: hello@fascinatinghorror.co.uk
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
00:38 - Background
03:08 - The Fire
07:31 - The Aftermath
MUSIC:
► "Glass Pond" by Public Memory
► "Underworld" by Myuu
SOURCES:
► "The story of the biggest fire disaster in Swedish history" by Catherine Edwards, published by The Local, October 2018. Link: www.thelocal.se/20181029/the-....
► "The Gothenburg Discotheque Fire Investigation" by Hauky Ingason, Ulf Wickström, and Patrick Van Hees, published by the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, January 2001. Link: www.researchgate.net/publicat....
► "Teenager admits starting disco fire where 63 died" published by The Guardian, May 2000. Link: www.theguardian.com/world/200....
► "Dance Hall Fire Gothenburg, Sweden October 28, 1988" by Ed Comeau and Robert F Duval, published by the National Fire Protection Association. Link: www.gkstill.com/Support/Links....
#Documentary #History #TrueStories
"The cause of the fire..."
Me, a long time FH viewer: Bad wiring, no fire inspection, the cardboard on the lights, the paper decorations....
"...was arson."
The plot twist I never saw coming.
Most major fires in the US just HAD an inspection days before the fire.
Iroquois.
Cocoanut Grove
The Station.
The craziest thing was the reason of the arson was being charged $5 to enter a party. That's beyond petty.
@@logangotcha8429 about the price for a pizza at the time.
@@logangotcha8429 Really, I mean for someone to get upset over a lousy $5 is going to make them angry enough to start a fire; that's pure evil in my book! :(
@@philipthomas6808
It's not just the five dollars it's the fact they felt they were entitled to be let in for free and they set the fire after being told to pay the five dollars that makes it all the worse. I'm sorry but after they killed and injured so many for such a selfish and petty reason they deserved life, not 3-8 years
This video should be played to students in every high school around the world. It was an exceptionally constructed presentation, factual and matter of fact, no sugar coating it. Very educational in my opinion. Well done FH x
ruclips.net/video/tT9DXJtwcOw/видео.html
Agreed!
Agreed
Totally agree.
Wouldn't do any good, they think they are invincible.
As I was a child in Gothenburg when this event took place, I still remember an interview I read with one of the firefighters about that evening. They described the horrifying sound of cell phones ringing in the pockets of the bodies they pulled out, and knowing that each and every one of them was a parent calling to see if their child was safe. Thinking about this still makes me uncomfortable.
That does send a shiver down the spine
Rescuers at the Paddington train crash in 1999 said the same... for hours after the impact and inferno, the haunting sound of ringtones echoed throughout the wreckage, each one representing a frantic loved one whose call would never be answered :(
Holy shit….. now that’s eerie
Ugh. That would be a horrible feeling
Oh my Lord, that has to be horrible for rescue workers. I don't think I would have the strength to deal with that. You have to admit, rescue workers have nerves of steel.
I love how even when you are sharing about horrible things, you always focus on positives as well. Sharing how the first responders made a significant impact, what memorials are in place, if the events you share inspired improved safety regulations, etc.
Its the core of the channel.
Looking at the disaster is only half.
The other half is about what humanity learned from it and honouring those who list their lives to bring forth this lesson and resolution.
Those are exactly the reasons I subscribed to this channel. He doesn't add dramatics, doesn't embellish, just straight forward facts. Makes him easy to listen to.
Yeah, he always gives credit where credit is due and commemorates any heroic acts, no matter how small
It's also a good warning.
This never fails to insult our intelligence, though.
Thise regulations, almost ALL if them, (minus flanking revolving doors with regular ones, that factored in huge at Cocoanut Grove, where people died in the jammed doors) were in effect WAY WAY before this.
Like in 1903 at the biggest fire in the States (killed 602+) the Iroquois theatre. There's a book where each chapter spells out a law that was THERE in 1903 that was ignored. And Chicago, being delightfully corrupt since the beginning of time, knew all about it.
Of all of the fire disasters you cover they always seem to have overcrowding as one of the main contributing factors to loss of life.
That's not an accident. Not being able to get out is one of the only ways that makes for a mass-death situation. Ghost ship disaster in Oakland, Station nightclub fire, etc. Even 9-11's body count was so high in part because of blocked exits.
...and blocked fire exit.
ruclips.net/video/tT9DXJtwcOw/видео.html
Yeah, in my country a huge tragedy like this happened and the place was crowded beyond capacity.
People are panicky animals.
Society is a veneer and drops pretty quick when the lizardbrain is activated.
I am surprised the organisers of the event did not get prosecuted or at least censured after they lied to the building owners, breached the capacity of the venue and blocked a fire exit.
Me too. I was waiting to hear what happened to the organisers
Agreed. As far as I'm concerned, they were just as guilty. They set up the venue for disaster.
They did try to prosecute the organizers but the charges were dropped.
It's Sweden, so they were probably given a stern talking to and perhaps even scolded for being naughty.
Pretty weird that the organizers got off scot free for murdering children, but then again, it is Sweden
Me watching this: well that's not good, that's not good, that's dumb, YOU DID WHAT TO THE FIRE EXIT!!! Unbelievable how avoidable this tragedy was. I'd never heard of it before, thank you for sharing.
I saw that as recently as 5 years ago. I went so far as to try to contact the fire marshall, probably to no avail. But they moved, so at least they had panic doors.
I don't think they're required in a small place, but the retail glass door locks are notoriously sticky. I don't know why you'd lock them ("but only during the performance" a factor not in the Chicago fire codes that I ever read) and not spring for 160.00 each panic bars. Makes you wonder what ELSE they skimped on...
That was at an Andrews sister's play (great singers during the war) at the Theoubique theater when it was at it's weird grandfathered-in old building. I think they moved to Evanston...?
They were very strict about keeping aisles clear, but they left a full drum kit in front of only one of 2 exits I knew of. I didn't sew a single fire extinguisher, which is just stupid when you have both a kitchen AND live sound. Live sound isn't a bad thing, but lights ARE a big (electrical) draw. I have heard of fires starting under stages.
Was going to post the same thing. I'm far from being a fire marshal but those actions were obviously dangerous. And though it's hard to prevent arson, with proper fire safety lives can be saved.
That's a pretty apt summation of the average viewer's thought process. My fury was triggered when I heard the rationale behind the fire. How petulant, how depraved.
. . cardboard being secured to lights that get HOT w / use .😲🙄😲😱. DUH?!?!.🐽🐽🐽..THEN to block the ONLY fire exit w / chairs?!? 😱😵.. just incredible stupidity..💩4🧠s...so sad. ..🔮🙏🛐🍀☮️🕊️💔💙🙁😔
I was thinking that myself. I'm no fire expert but red flags, red flags.
To those that wonder what happened to the organizers, they were at first going to be put on trial for Involuntary manslaughter and for causing bodily harm. The charges were dropped however since they had never actually got a permit for the party they could not be held responsible for it.
It was also said that while their negligence had been very serious it was also "trivial" compared to the arsonists. If the arsonists had not been caught the organizers would probably had been charged.
Its more important to make a showing of justice than to hold everyone accountable.
Thank you! That was my first question while watching.
...so what they're implying is that if I host a dangerously unsafe party here in Sweden I can dodge responsibility by just not getting a proper permit for the event? Backwardest logic ever, they're implying two wrongs somehow cancel out and make a right.
@@Redhotsmasher did the host start the fire? No some kids that was mad about 5$ started the fire. How would charging the hosts made any sense
@@TJ-bu9zk I don’t think any justice was served. They got 3-8 years in prison. That’s literally nothing for killing 60+ people. Also European prisons are like hotels or a college dorm. I would be pissed if I had a kid that died in that fire.
I remember this like it was yesterday. My older siblings lost a few friends, and one of my older sisters were supposed to attend, but never went. It scarred our city, and it is still felt to this day.
I started to recall a memory watching this, and wanted to share it. I was 13 at the time this happend, and even though I understood that what had happend was horrible, I didn't grasp it until my older sister, who was supposed to attend the party, came home the day after. I heard a lot of commotion all of a sudden. I was in my room playing video games, so I paused and went to check on what was going on. I opened my door, and at the same time, just outside my door, my older sister threw herself to the floor and was screaming and crying her eyes out. "I don't want to live anymore!", was the only thing she kept screaming, over and over again. One of her closest friends had died in the fire. It was then it dawned on me how close this hit our family and our community. I have never talked to my sister about this memory, and as an adult I can understand that she must've been feeling survivors guilt.
ruclips.net/video/tT9DXJtwcOw/видео.html
@@callme_Sweetpea that sounds horrible, i hope your sister managed to pull herself out of the bottomless pit that is survivors guilt. Some people are haunted with it for life sadly
Damn, sorry to hear your sister lost her friend in this. I hope she can find peace one day. 🕊️
Hey do you know what happened to the kids who where responsible?? As in before or after they got out of juvy/prison?? Are they still blamed/hated? Ostracized from their communities?? Or are you all just soo good at forgiving? And thats why prison sentences are so light?
Storing furniture in the emergency exit stairwell? That surely won't have any consequences later.
As soon as I heard that I said out loud, Uh Oh.
I have lived in several flats in my live and have visited dozens, and ALL, every single one of them, has stuff 'stored' in there by the tenants. It boggles my mind.
Lol we got a smart ass over here
The first three minutes of this video are basically a master class on what NOT to do with a crowd event.
This happened in my hometown, when i was 15 years old. A trauma for the country and city. There were students at my school that died in the fire.
It was hard to get a grip of how big this was, waking up the day after.
One thing I always remeber is a poem...that a father read in court. It was about his daughter Moa. His voice full of tears and agony.
"Her eyes looked like cracked mirrors. Behind the cracks there was nothing left.
Moa was no longer there, could not hear my cries, could not come back to me who loved her so much.
Nothing I did that night helped. Moa was lying there. Suffocated to death. Barely 16 years old..."
I cant even think of anything to say to this. I am so sorry for all of the families and friends of those who lost their lives. Its such a terrible waste.
That poem sucka
@@kiobio7311
What's wrong with you? Why would you say that about something a grieving father wrote about his dead 16 year old daughter?
Poetry doesn't have to rhyme, and some of the best poetry doesn't.
Did it ever occur to you that it was probably written in Swedish, and so it might rhyme, or it might "sound better" in the language it was written in?
It might also have been a victim impact statement instead of a poem.
Ffs have some compassion. Imagine someone said that about something YOU WROTE for someone you love if they had died too young and for no reason.
Terrible..that poem doesnt even rhyme
@@Mike-qz4by
One day I hope something terrible happens to someone you love and that in your gut wrenching, agonising, heart breaking grief you write what you are thinking about how powerless you feel in that moment, how much you love and miss them, and how you'll never see them again.
And then I hope some callous, vicious, heartless, little waste of space on the Internet comments that whatever you wrote is "terrible" and "doesn't even rhyme".
Maybe then you'll realise that it wasn't written for other people. It was written for his daughter and to try to release some of the agony and devastating loss he was feeling because his whole world had been torn apart.
One of the national traumas, still spoken about and remembered by anyone who was alive at the time. Thank you for telling the story
The statsmuseum has photographs and burnt gadgets on display.
You can spend 20 minutes in that section learning about the fire.
The U.S. had a similar tragedy in the same time period, around the year 2003, called the Station nightclub fire. Around 100 people perished when a pyrotechnic device lit the building on fire. It went up in flames in a matter of seconds.
yeah and 8 years of prison, disgusting but yeah typical leftist country
ruclips.net/video/tT9DXJtwcOw/видео.html
Intentional???
Idiots
Even though those kids got a short sentence, they are ruined for life. Just shows how dangerous stupidity can be, living in Australia arson is terrifying it's crazy how little people respect the destructive capability of fire.
I’m sure they learned their lesson. If they were good kids at heart, then they are now surely living with this regret for the rest of their lives and that alone is harsh enough as far as I’m concerned.
It’s so bad here in Australia. A lot of people commit arson especially when the weather is hot. Will never understand why
I'm a Kiwi. I'm not a fan of Australians 😄 but I love Australia, and financially, 10 years ago I would have been better off moving by a long shot. I particularly like the bush and outback. BUT- I am terrified of forrest fires. Just nope.
Had a buddy take the fall for another friend who committed arson
ruclips.net/video/tT9DXJtwcOw/видео.html
The second I heard the fire exit was blocked by furniture, I knew this was going to be an absolute disaster.
As soon as I read the title "The Gothenburg Discothèque Disaster" I knew this was going to be an absolute disaster. ;)
This video should be shown both at high schools and juvenile detentions to teach teens the very real consequences that are brought on by destruction being caused by bouts of anger and general intense emotions of that age group. Rebellious behavior over trivial matters can very well cause permanent and incurable damage- to property and especially to countless lives- not just those who were killed; but those who were traumatized and the friends and family of the lost.
The building plans and diagrams really helped me understand this story. Great job
He does this quite frequently in videos. It's one of the reasons I enjoy his channel so much. Everything's explained concisely, factually, and in an un-embellished way.
I love when he, or others like him, do that!
Agreed. Very well presented.
I know these videos are a lot of work. And just wanted you to know much we appreciate all of your extra time and efforts to make them. You do such a great job every time.
ruclips.net/video/tT9DXJtwcOw/видео.html
Ikr almost like it’s his job or something ;)
Yes!
@@jangamaster8677 RUclipss algorithm doesn’t promote true crime so he’s probably not making that much..
_"I know these videos are a lot of work."_ - No offense... but are they?
You take a Wikipedia page, summarize it, record the VO, and then find a couple dozen photos to show in a slide-show manner. Technically speaking, these videos are extremely simple, and any first-year editor could put them together in a couple hours.
I love this channel, but let's not kid ourselves like this is a Kurzgesagt-level production, here.
Also, 3 out of the 4 arsonists continued a life in crime. You'd think an event like this would give the a wakeup call to turn things around but apparently that's too much to ask.
Most people can be "saved" from a criminal future with proper guidance and support. But if everyone you know treats you like a criminal, it's pretty difficult to escape that tag.
@@mariakok19 These four set a building on fire for five bucks. There’s a large difference between thief and other small crimes, and just being an obvious sociopath.
@@videogameunderappreciateda8174 Yes, it was a terrible thing to do, but do consider the possibility that they were just THAT stupid. Adults too can have mind-bogglingly bad judgement as you've seen on this channel. You calling them OBVIOUS sociopaths kind of supports what I said. People with that kind of mindset give up on them and then they have very little chance to redeem themselves. Even a sociopath can learn to make better choices.
@@videogameunderappreciateda8174 Most likely believing they could ruin the party without anyone being hurt, it doesn't mean they would necessarily stay criminal afterward. But I doubt being shunned, as they probably were, helped them gravitate towards the people shunning them.
"Come back to us, you dumb piece of shit" has a good chance of pushing them away further from that "regular life".
Obviously there's more than words involved in being shunned most of the time. Looks of people around you, silence, general treatment, opportunities to align more with the legal side and such.
@@mariakok19 They were over 16 years old, they had plenty of time to learn the basics of a obviously very terrible idea. Basic human empathy should prevent even the youngest and stupidest people from starting that fire. Even with the assumption that nobody was going to die, they set a building on fire, which would have caused injuries and thousands of dollars in damaged, because they had to pay 5 bucks. Not everyone can be a good person. I used to be pretty optimistic, but it’s very clear that being too optimistic isn’t a good or smart thing to do. How much bad does somebody have to do before they deserve scorn? Because this is pretty far up there in terms of being irredeemable.
Hey man, there's a fire that happened in a nightclub in Brazil in 2013 that had more than 200 casualties and I'm pretty sure no one has been held accountable for it yet, it would be cool to see you shed some light into it. The place is called boate kiss
200??? The number of casualties it's stuttering, I remember the tragedy in Santa Maria, it's so infuriating the no one received a just sentence in this case, our legal system it's such a shame 😞.
the boate kiss tragedy continues to make my be one of those cases that makes my blood boil. so much was horribly wrong, the trial was ridiculous, and i can't imagine the pain the families have been through. o pior é saber que já acabou em pizza, não se espera mais nada com a nossa "justiça"
The judgment happened earlier this year and all offenders were declared guilty. Not sure if they are already in jail though..
Ah it's better known as The Kiss nightclub fire and 245 died in it with around 630 injured.
According to Wikipedia - On 10 December, 2021, the two nightclub owners were sentenced to 22 and 19 years in prison respectively and the band members were given a jail term of 18 years eac
@@lohaye3260 #FreeJussie..lmao haha
the more i watch these vids with exits being filled with "The Crush" the more aware I am when I walk into buildings.
Went to a small theatre in London around Christmas and, heavily pregnant, this channel was the first thing I thought when the pyrotechnics started. Like “oh no I’ll never make it before the crush”
Just have to walk out calmly in a line or two depending on how big the exit are or how many exits there are. Those at the back may possibly be poisoned, but that is the price to pay for others not being crushed.
Of course, if it's a small number of people it probably won't matter, the last person out won't be in there for long.
They could also cover their mouths and not breathe until they are out or try to breathe in very little, they could sneak their way out as to avoid breathing in as much or any smoke due to a lowered position.
You don't have to be super aware, it's mostly down to panicked humans, if you stay at the back and panicked humans are in the front and they clump together, you'll have an easier time pulling them back to clear the entrance than firefighters coming from the outside, at that point some of them may be dead so they'll be a bit heavier to pull back.
@@hollithomas2222 i can't imagine that situation while heavily pregnant. I worry about all kinds of things anyways. Probably all the weird circumstances I've lived through so far.
I, like many, have changed the way I look at buildings and venues when I enter. Recently I went to a high school show in their performing-arts center. For the first time in my life, I looked around and thought "If there's a fire or incident ... " and proceeded to think up a route to get out quickly and safely. It's good to have those skills, and yet I never really thought about it before.
Videos like this and other stories mean I've basically been trained into surveying a venue before the show starts to find out where I and my friends would go in different emergencies. Went to a concert and we got in fairly close to the stage (we didn't have any bags so we didn't need to go through security for bag check) and before the first openers came out and while people where still streaming in my friend and I looked around and decided where we would go if the crowd suddenly panicked or surged to the front threatening to crush us and found a spot almost directly horizontal meaning we wouldn't have to fight the crowd and would get us away from the stage quickly since while we where close to the front we where also a good ways off to the side. We came up with this plan before even half of the people attending had arrived
*Some more information that the video left out:*
1. The venue was partly to blame for the disaster. The door to the fire exit, where the fire started, had originally had an automatic closing system, however this had been removed before the fire. Had the door been closed the fire wouldn't have spread as fast. It was also the venue that suggested placing the furniture in the fire escape, it had been done on previous occasions.
2. Attempts were made to prosecute the hosts but the charges were dropped.
3. Today the venue is a museum and memorial.
Hopefully this comment gets pinned! Thank you for sharing.
The venue also thought there would be fifty people max, so they probably thought they could easily escape through the other exit if need be. I don't really agree that the venue was at fault
I agree the venue really wasn't all that much at fault. The hosts, however, they're the real reason this didn't stay a small fire. They lied so they could overcrowd the venue to over double the max occupancy, they physically blocked the fire exit with wood so no one could use it and made it into a tinderbox, they covered the walls and lights with flammable material, they installed a smoke machine so no one was even aware the fire was going on until it was too late... I mean, how the hell were they not punished?!
Thanks for the additional info. I also wonder how no one from the venue noticed the flyers that were posted indicating an event of this size at their building. Of course it could have just been one person doing scheduling and contracting, who didn't move around the community much.
@@kriscook2423 Highly possible almost no one going to a party cares about safety and the people that cares about safety are the ones that don't party.
Some people simply choose to live a more dangerous life, the only way they could remain alive would be if they joined the group that doesn't choose that or at least chooses it at an important moment, like becoming a civilian soldier or whatever you'd call that. Impromptu resistance fighter.
"A moment of youthful frustration" ??? Uh. setting a fire in the fire exit of an occupied building is way past that. Even a 17 year old knows that is probably going to get someone trampled even if the whole building hadn't gone up.
Should have been a mandatory life sentence.
Arson is also one of the crimes that we know consistently escalates into much much more serious crimes. I bet if they had had done some digging they would have found out the arsonists were more despicable than they could've imagined.
And you know they were the first people to leave the building. Truly evil people.
Not necessarily. Some people really are that stupid and totally lack imagination.
Everytime you cover a nightclub fire i get reminded of the Cromañon fire that happened here in Argentina in 2004. Small venue packed with people for a concert of the band Callejeros, in which a member of the public lit a flare which caught the plastic sheet on the roof on fire. Evacuation was chaotic since many doors were locked with chains and first aid professionals weren't hired to reduce costs. In total, 194 people died, including family members of the band members, and 1432 were injured, most of them due to smoke inhalation and toxic fumes from the plastic sheet, trampling and burns. There's a gut wrenching video of the family members of the concert goers outside of the venue, desperately calling for their loved ones and hoping for an answer. Some of them met their loved ones alive, but many didn't. It caused a lot of nightclubs in the city to get shut down and the consequences of it still lingers on today.
The small venue had at least 1626 people inside it? What was the capacity?? I'm going to look up that one.
@@InteriorDesignStudent According to what I found, the 1500 m2 building had a maximum capacity of 1,031 people, but it is estimated that around 4,500 spectators where there that night. Plus, the place was allowed to work as a nightclub, but not as a concert venue.
@@guugas6666 Sickening to read that. I watched several videos about it.
I got chills from the similarities between this case and the "Boate Kiss" fire here in Brazil.
Thats heartbreaking, i hope that at least something good (better regulations and People truly following them) happened.
2:22 How many of you broke into a cold sweat when you heard the explanation of their preparations??? I can see exactly where this is going...
Yeah I knew exactly how this would go the moment he mentioned the narrow main door and the fire exit blocked by furniture.
I full on banged my head against a desk...
I mean, if it all went well, it wouldn't have been covered on this channel... o0
Just the other day, I was watching a video about how quickly fires can spread. In one, a Christmas tree caught fire and it took 30 seconds for the entire room to be completely black with smoke. The other was a fire department demonstration in an open-sided structure, so most of the smoke escape, but the fire filled the whole living room in about 3 minutes. Those videos really put into perspective how quickly these sorts of disasters escalate, in a way that someone simply describing it can't. I'm not surprised the youths that started the fire didn't have any frame of reference for how quickly everything could go so badly.
You have 3 minutes on average to get out and it might take the first to set off a smoke alarm. So that leaves two minutes to escape before a flashover. This is for a modern home packed full of plastic on average.
If you ever get a chance, look up the Bradford Stadium fire. It happened during a football match, so the entire thing unfolded live on TV. It took less than five minutes for a massive grandstand to be engulfed in flames. Terrifying .
I remember a snippet of a radio documentary about this event, where they interviewed a fireman who was on the scene. he said that some partygoers assisted them in the rescue by carrying people freed from the crush down the stairs and outside. He said that when they had cleared out the crush, one of the kids who had helped them told him to get inside to save his friend, who still was in there. The fireman said to him that anyone still in there no longer is alive. Upon hearing this, the partygoer ran into the building himself, only to turn straight back.
2:44 You can't make this up, I almost laughed at how horrifically unhinged the organizers were to _block off the fire exit._ How could people have such suicidal shortsightedness as to do such a thing?? What an unnecessary tragedy.
Organizers were most likely teenagers too.
@@Rentta But to block off a fire exit with _flammable materials?_
@@Rentta surely there had to be some adults involved, though
In Sweden there are always signs that say "Fire exit. Do not block". But they chose to ignore it.
@@Sky_Guy When you are young, you think nothing horrible can happen to you.
As a swede, i remember this - the aftermath was a bit confusing and I can't understand how a kid, that was rejected could do this. Horrible behavior and so many youngsters had to pay with their life.
As someone that has been 17, I was pretty braindead until I was about 21. I wasn't the partying kind or the caring-about-not-being-invited kind, so even if I had been told to pay like the rest I would have, but as I didn't party, it would've never been me as the arson, but if I was the partying, revenge guy, I probably could've been the arson.
Some are braindead when they're 17, some at 20, some at 25, some at 30 and so on..I feel like me came about at 21, before then I was an empty shell. Doesn't mean much to anyone else, but to me it meant some level of self-intelligence came about and before then I was seemingly on autopilot.
Autopilot human plus someone that wants revenge means a braindead plot to take revenge becomes a high possibility.
@@Herkan97 Same. I was pretty stupid when i was 17. My brain really only started switching on when i turned 23.
it wasnt a sole kid. When ones with friends, especially young people, group pressure and trying to do something fun often results in very stupid and regretful decisions.
The bit of the human brain responsible for evaluating the potential consequences of actions typically isn't fully developed until the mid-twenties (in people for whom it fully develops at all--some people's never do, for various reasons).
@@ZGryphon eeeh, no scientific evidence of that
Similar disaster was the Blue Bird Cafe fire at Montreal Canada in 1972. Three people was refused entry into the bar area, so they started a fire and killed 37 people and 57 injured.
As someone from the city, but barley even a year old when the tragedy took place, i first learnt about it at around the age of 10. One of the businesses occupying parts of the building today, lek och buslandet (play and mischief-land), is a huuge indoor playground for children. They have (or at least had) memorial plaques close to the entrance and even as a 10yo it felt weird playing and having fun in a place where such an event took place.
It's kind of symbolic in a way. Like, these people went to the building to have fun but future generations can have fun there but with the proper regulations in place so stuff like this never happens again. These tragedies are very tragic, but they pave the way for better safety features and serve as a warning for what not to do.
A plaque is still on the wall by the entrance, right by the front door of that section. Just by the sidewalk, outside the building, is a huge memorial made of black stone where the names and ages of those who died are etched in gold. The two trees right by it was planted in earth made by all the roses the public left after the fire. I pass it all every day on my way home from work.
Great video! As some have already commented, this is a big trauma here in Sweden even to this day. The perpetrators are free today and have moved to places where they aren’t recognised.
“Terrible catastrophes happen elsewhere”, but we have had our share of them - Backa-branden (the disaster described here), the fire from a prom-night in Borås and of course Estonia. Each and every of them leaving a scar.
I'm surprised the Estonia disaster hasn't made it to this channel yet. Maybe it will be covered one day?
@@needlenude Someone made a 2-part video about the ferry catastrophe in S Korea. It could have been Dark Seas. No it was Brick Immortar.
Unfortunaley the Estonia disaster has become a heaven for conspiracy theorists making odd claims based on conspiracy ideas.
Sadly this is not the only fire around the world taking place in a club and not only. Remembering the Colectiv fire that happened in 2015 in Bucharest. RIP to all the people that we lost in these fires. 😔
I have a friend from Paradise, California. They had a Wildfire there. The entire town burnt down. She and her husband escaped with their cars and 4 cats. They’re still living in a trailer. I first spoke to her; when we were having snow, in my town. Suddenly, the snow wasn’t too bad.
@@moemcgovern7345 I've seen horrific video from the Paradise fire. Cars trying to escape on the one road while huge flames tower on all sides. Charred cars at roadside.
@@carlcushmanhybels8159 My friends had to abandon their cars as well; but they still saved their cats. We had snow that day. I invited her to come to my area and make a snowman. We also had a camel, get loose on a highway, from a circus. What a crazy day!
@@moemcgovern7345 Wait--was that near Harrisburg, PA a few years back? I remember a camel on the highway, but it didn't escape. The owners just let it walk around for a bit, because the traffic was at a dead stop because of the snow. I lived 4 miles away from where I worked, and it took me three hours to get home that day. Crazy.
Terrible taste in music. Maybe they wont make that mistake again!
When the emergency exit is on fire, you know you're in trouble. Those poor kids. But it could've been so much worse.
You should consider doing the Rhythm Club fire next.
A very similar fire happened in Ireland in '81. It was called Stardust disco and similar to this it was a national tragedy. I would love to see you make a video about it too as it's also a good lesson in fire safety.
He has an email in the description where you can send suggestions. He's already agreed to look into two of my suggestions. :) Try it out!
@@daffers2345which ones were those?
@@jacaredosvudu1638I suggested the Kyshtym nuclear disaster and the Sight & Sound Theater fire.
The people who set this fire in a venue with hundreds of people knew there was a chance this tragedy could occur. It's horrible what they chose to do killed so many. I wonder if the organizers who lied about the event, thereby circumventing the safety precautions that would have been taken, were prosecuted for their part. Thanks, lot of ugly going on after a great idea in the comments, I'm sorry to see that on an outstanding video.
They most likely believed everyone would get out in time, with the fire only having abruptly cancelled the party.
This is also closer to confirmed with an interview or whatever with the arsonists, but they could always lie. I doubt it.
@@Herkan97 They knew damn well that they were starting a fire in a building full of people. They have no excuse and deserve whatever bad happens to them.
Not forgetting that the organisers were also the people who stacked flammable materials *in the fire exit*. Definitely some culpability there. But it sounds like they were probably also young and just trying to put on a fun party, not running an illegal business or anything 😕
@@Ellie-rx3jt Yeah, really the organisers should have been prosecuted as well. They endangered hundreds of lives the same as they would have if the fire had been accidental.
I was thinking the same thing. Yeah, prosecute those kids who set the fire, but also the organisers of the event for lying to the Macedonian Association (who were kind enough to rent out their space) to get away with not taking safety precautions and for blocking the emergency exit with furniture they didn't want in the space. The organisers were also blame for the overcrowding at that event.
Damn….. I just keep thinking, those kids that started the fire are lucky they weren’t in the US, they’d be in prison probably for life, or at least 20 years. Such a shame that one bad decision changed the lives of so many people. RIP to the deceased and my condolences to the families who lost so much. This should never have happened.
this…exactly this…they were tried in ‘00-‘01 and if they underwent the maximum sentencing, that would mean they would’ve been out since about 2008-ish and now they’re roaming the streets as free…they’ll be facing demons for the rest of their lives
The organizers of the party and the owners of the venue would probably also go to jail.
@@eadecamp ah yes, clearly the US model of mass incarceration in a corporate prison industry is sooooo much better, right? Lol
Even in the US not every case that leads to death results in a life sentence.
Assuming these kids was proven right in their confession that their intent was to scare and end the party early, not to kill. Then I think the first thing to consider is this case would be classed a homicide not a murder, as if I recall right for it to be a murder there needs to a explicit intent to kill.
So if it came down to the courts deciding the kids just made a stupid decision leading to homicide. It is possible they could of got sentences somewhat on the lighter side of jail time.
*Or in their own countries...they would've been stoned to death, hanged, or cut to pieces !*
Thank you for telling the full story of what happened that night. I remember that terrible fire, killing and injuring so many young people, but I never knew the whole story.
Christ, what unbelievable idiocy... I would like to know, though, what became of those fools, because prison-wise, they indeed got away very lightly for all those deaths and injuries, not to mention the life-long trauma of the survivors. Did they ever expressed remorse? How did their families and friends react to the reveal? So much tragedy there...
Seriously. What prank starts with fire? How do you explain to your friend’s parents that you triggered their likely agonizing death because you didn’t feel like paying $5?
@@esteemedmortal5917 @Elena Plionis I looked up the basic info on the wiki, and since the four had the gall to appeal their sentences, it doesn't seem like they acknowledged what they were responsible for. I must admit I was quite pleased to read that the court of appeals actually increased the sentences in the two cases which were under the legal maximum.
@@irena4545 shame they weren’t imprisoned for life. Over 60 deaths for 4 sentences seems like a small trade.
They wont last for a year in prison, especially in the showers ~
4 students from my school died (small school, maybe 300 students class 4-9), a bunch where injured and many where traumatized for life. Brother of a friend of mine died. There is a memorial stone next to the building with all the names and age of all the kids who died. It really hits me everytime I walk by. I think almost everyone born in gothenburg in the 80's, at least in the working class areas, know someone who was affected by this.
For a second there, my dumb ass was like, "Wow I can't believe there were 50 people who all had their birthday on the same day!"
2:14am here in Washington State USA. Sending love to whoever reads this. ❤️
That’s my State!
❤
6:18 pm here in Western Australia 😋 hello...
12:24 pm here in Athens, Greece... Greetings everyone ❤️
So annoying. 👎
I always appreciate how you tell these stories. No glorifying, no down-play, just facts. You do a great job and I always look forward to your videos!
Today marks the 25th anniversary of this horrible tragedy, and it is being remembered in the news here in Sweden. My prayers goes to the victims and their families who will have the wounds torn open again today.
When I heard the cause was arson my heart dropped.
I remember when this happened, everyone pretty much knew someone who perished. :( I pass the memorial once in a while. RIP
So what's the name of the piece of garbage that lit the fire?
He's clearly free and living life, which seems unfair.
Something like this (on a sadly larger scale) happened at the Cromañón nightclub in Argentina, during a New Year's concert in 2004. Almost 200 dead and over a thousand injured. To this day is one of our biggest national tragedies.
Even one life lost is catastrophic…especially for relatives. Sadly as the saying goes, those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Your videos are excellent.
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania any intentionally set fire that endangers human lives is called Arson Endangering Persons. If anyone dies the perpetrator is charged with 2nd Degree Murder which is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Now THAT is a proper punishment for arsonists.
@jeffrey skoritowski I'm also in the Commonwealth (Camp Hill), and I was flummoxed and flabbergasted these people weren't charged with 2nd-degree murder or at the very least 63 counts of criminally negligent homicide plus 200+ counts of aggravated assault. Teenage frustration is *not* an acceptable excuse for the magnitude of this tragedy.
The organizers of the event should have faced consequences too, they obviously deliberately misled the macedonian foundation as to the event and held it at an unsuitable venue. Not to mention the insane decision to block the only emergency exit with furniture...
Actually, it was the venue themselves who suggested they put furniture in the stairway. It had been done on previous occasions.
True
Also the fact that the windows are that high up.. short people be damned >.
@@ellenkarlsson9490 Probably influenced by them thinking their was only going to be 50 people
I saw a Swedish tour of the building and according to a tour guide, two of the many victims of this disaster were a young couple, whose relationship was disapproved by the parents for religious reasons. Firefighters from outside could see the boyfriend ready to escape through the window, only for him to turn back. Before he was about to jump, he saw his girlfriend drifting out of consciousness due to excessive carbonmonoxide inhalation. Not wanting to leave her behind, he climbed down and held her in his arms until both of them closed their eyes forever. When the firefighters finally made it into the building, both of them were found deceased, still holding each other. The thick smoke had left silhouette markings on the wall where they rested their heads. The wall was deliberately untouched as the 2nd floor was renovated. Having to deal with losing their children, the parents of the couple agreed to set their religious differences aside, and later became on good terms with each other.
🤔🤨😕
So at least one good thing came of it.
This is still one of the most chilling national traumas in Sweden. There’s a Swedish radio documentary where one of the victims parents explains she actually fellt really sorry for the young boys starting the fire, as none of their family attended their trials and leaving empty chairs behind them as a symbol of shunning them.
This comment made me cry.
None of them had intent to cause anyone harm. I do not even think that they even knew that there even was a possibility that it would turn out the way it did and that is why they were not convicted of murder but involuntary manslaughter
Do I know the radio documentary is called?
@@Mixedpixie it’s in Swedish. One just searches for the incident and P3 documentary.
i’ve probably left comments like this before, but man thank you for making videos. it’s really nice to hear about incidents like this that other people haven’t brought up before.
As a swede and super fan of true crime and disaster stories seeing my home town in one of these videos, heck even a Swedish case made my day! Especially coming from one of my absolute favorite channels! Thank you for providing so much amazing content, looking forward to listening to this one as I’ve had family living through the distaster first hand and grown up hearing of it.
oh! I'm a huge fan of your work and had no idea you're a fellow swede! my attempt at hiding in the blue is by far my most viewed video - tack för inspirationen c: !
my mom talks a lot about this case too, though she's not from the area. it's fair to say it's a national trauma. I was listening to a documentary on this just the other month by p3 dokumentär - can recommend if you want something more in depth with interviews and the like.
Seems like a lot of these fire disasters at nightclubs have some things in common: Overcrowding, inadequate fire safety equipment or construction and lack of well defined exits.
It’s almost like these people have a checklist on how to make these events as lethal as possible
@@esteemedmortal5917 Heck, pretty much every fire that's resulted in a mass casualty situation seems to have that problem. The 2016 Ghost Fire in California is a prime example, and that was a warehouse fire.
So many people should have been held accountable, the Owners who never verified the information, who put flammable material in the venue, who allowed the exit to be blocked, who had no fire safety measures in place...the event organiser who lied and allowed patrons in above the number authorised...horrific event for those who lived and died
The Fire Regulations seemed to have been all there from what the Swedish law seemed to have Prescribed. The Building wasn't Build for So many people and they have been told it were only 50 people. Also they probably gave the Building to these kinds of Party multiple Times before, so they just didn't think mutch of it. Holding the Owners accountable is stupid
"Hosting a birthday party for around 50 people."
Ok that seems like a decent amount-
"In reality, the building was packed with more than four times that number, many of whom were already beyond saving."
Never mind.
Over-capacity venue: Check
Blocked Fire-Exit: Check
Poorly managed event: Check
Let the Fascinating Horror begin...!!!!!!!!
Not a single swede in sight exept from the emergency services: Checked!
Flammable decorations
Windows that were not good exits.
At 4:26, on the left, there's a handprint on the wall.
That does drive home how tragic this was. Whoever placed their hand there most likely died in a horrible way.
Having had grown up in the 70s, this lesson was drilled into our heads in every class, the FD comes to our school and shows us how quickly a fire can get out of control. I remember watching a documentary in school about a candle left to burn on a stone fireplace mantle and how the wax can drip or the candle get knocked over. Even gas stoves are dangerous we were told.
So are kerosene heaters, especially the wicks. I was a kid (early 1990s) when the wick caught fire one night in our old cylindrical one. I have a distinct memory of looking over the banister and seeing the heater in flames, hearing the noise of the smoke alarm and the sound of the sink running at full blast as Dad filled the big pitcher with water.
According to Mom, he dumped the water over the heater and then grabbed it and ran out into the yard with it in case it flared up again. We were VERY lucky he got the fire out as the old heater was sitting on a rug on top of a wood floor.
@@daffers2345 I have never heard of this before with wicks catching on fire. I have a a Sanyo kerosene wick box shaped heater I use when the power goes out.
@@silentvoiceinthedark5665 Open fire is ALWAYS an issue, especially to someone not that smart. Costco has small hot air heater that are more "stupid proof." No open fire. Shutoff switch.
Been listening to you for a while. In the last couple of videos, your voice had been loud and clear. You're sounding very professional, and I hope you keep up the good work.
I'm glad they were able to figure out the perpetrators of this and at least hand out some form of punishment.
Very tragic, RIP 😢
I remember how silent it was the week after in school. A fireman was visiting and told us what to do if there ever was a fire. I think that everyone who was young 1998 will never forget that day.
I hold a very high respect for firefighters and EMT personnel. Their work can be summed up with “damnned if they did, damnned if they didn’t.”
Imagine rushing into an inferno trying to rescue people and the very people you’re trying to save are Karen-ing at you for not doing it fast enough despite the same people hindering the rescue operation.
Shock does weird things
I remember this so well. All the news and even the youth magazines was writing about it. The speculation of arson was immediate after the fire. Some time after the fire one of the victims was interviewed in media and they had no hatred against the people how started the fire but to the organizers who had blocked the fire exit and packed the place full.
These videos really make me think, back when I was a student living in halls on campus, the friend of someone in the room next to mine thought it would be funny to set fire to the paper sign on the outside of my door. The fire was only lit long enough to singe the corner of the paper and leave a burn mark in the paint on the door, and at the time I was more annoyed that they'd spoiled my sign than anything else. But looking back with the context of stories like this, that fire could just as easily have spiralled out of control and led to some horrible disaster, it's quite alarming how quickly and easily a small fire becomes a blazing inferno.
The quality of your videos is incredible. Factual, well presented. Genuinely great content.
So many fires in clubs, bars etc and it’s just so sad and terrifying. Fire and smoke do so much damage so quickly. Visibility is so reduced and the panic and stampeding to get out is distressing. Why do places never learn about better fire safety…alarms, sprinklers, unlocked and unblocked fire exits. They should just be a basic necessity but these tragedies continue to happen. The fire crew did an amazing job given the circumstances, it was incredible they could save so many.
The sentance, "stored in the stairwell" just grabbed my heart and stomped it! That one decision killed many...obviously. So very sad indeed.
They could’ve put allat in the storage room
So sad. This reminds me of the fire here in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in 2016 caused by two 14 year old kids. could you maybe do a video on that? It's so tragic
Even though I live in the western part of the state, I remeber that day it was so devastating and upsetting to watch, I'm sorry if you or anyone you knew lost anything during it. 💙
The handprint on the wall is eerie.
Where?
@@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823 4:26. look towards the left wall.
Having watched this channel (and other similar channels) for years really has trained my eye to spot fire hazard problems.
For example some time ago at work I noticed how there was quite a lot of stuff placed on the floor in front of the fire extinguisher in a lab (where high-powered electronics were developed and tested), making reaching the extinguisher more difficult. I drew attention to this problem. Sadly but unsurprisingly nobody else seemed to have ever paid attention to such a thing.
I'm stunned they only got charged with arson.... I wonder if the families of all who died share that sentiment? What a slap in the face. No negligent homicide in Sweden?
Sadly we are a great country to be a criminal in.
@@taags the US is even better. Yeah we have harsher sentences but we have more people committing crime. And in the poor areas cops aren't really patrolling and will even drive by shit happening because of their own safety. Drugs are everywhere, guns are everywhere, money just everything.
Look at our murder stats. And in chicago basically an open air warzone less than 25% of murderers are caught and convicted. You have a better than 1 in 4 chance of beating a murder charge in Chicago because snitches can be killed or threatened before they take the stand.
@@drugaddictwithknowledge9603 We also have a huge problem with much worse poverty and inequality. The average Swede would be shocked by our low minimum wage, the number of jobs with no benefits, high illiteracy, terribly underfunded schools, high school dropout rates, enormous personal debt for university, healthcare that can leave people in debt for years, level of homelessness, lack of required paid maternity leave, lack of financial help for dealing with longterm health issues that keep you out of work, lack of minimum required paid vacation, and maternal and infant death rates in poor areas that rival those in poor countries. Add in racism that's still running through the country's veins (innocent people are terrified of cops), plus an outrageous lack of gun controls, and you get a very different life here than in Oslo or Stockholm. S
South Chicago was shaped by relining, blockbusting, etc. That didn't come out of nowhere. Chicago is one of the most segregated cities in the country. Dr. King found Chicagoland impossible to make progress in despite all the successes in the South.
I was 14 when this happened, and I remember it so clearly. It will be one of the darkest moments in Sweden’s history forever 😔
Do a Short documentary about the Fire in Ozone Disco. It's one of the most famous Fire incident here in the Philippines.
There are some graphic images in the internet about that incident
I remember this night. I just got home from work and seeing the fire on tv. Some of my (bus driver) colleagues saw it and also helped with transportation. Firefighters also reported that they heard phones ringing, when people searched for the missing kids. One poor girl was hid behind a door and were thought to be alive for a week. The problems went on for years with surgeries and ptsd treatments. When the guys were arrested, papers reported that one of them took part in a support group and even were together with one of the victims taking part. It was a horrible event that scarred Backa for a long time! 😢 One thing I thought about was how many that knew someone that died. Many did know them, but I'm quite sure that many just wanted sympathy from others too.
All these nightclub/bar/party fire videos I've watched online recently has given me a new habit when I enter these types of venues. I locate all the fire exits, make sure the routes to the doors are clear and that the doors are unlocked. I've seen too many tragedies.
I love these Tuesday mornings. I find out about things I’ve either not heard of before or I get further information on events or disasters I’ve heard about before. Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much for covering this! Not many know about this tragedy outside of Sweden, so I am happy that more will learn about it.
I didn't realise that I would actually cry from this video. I was 9 when it happened, and I guess it did a number one me.
Better than a number two, at least. That would be shitty to have happen to you.
@@Herkan97 well, I'm not pissed often so Ican manage that
There's a long history here in Sweden of immigrants turning on fire-fighters, I really have no clue as of why
Maybe they come from countries where firefighters are corrupt?
At the age of 17 you should be plenty aware of the dangers of fire in a crowded space. The only relieving fact for a lower than maximum sentence should be the partial blame on the organizers for not adhering to the maximum capacity and for blocking the emergency stairwell.
Just a couple of months later i was born and now i walk by The memorial everytime im out and about. It's still weird to see how ive outgrown The victims
Shortly after the Ghost Ship fire here in the Bay Area, I saw a video made by a local DJ and a firefighter teaching fire safety for organizers of dance parties. If I can find it, I’ll link it here.
No luck finding that video. The safety tips were:
1) Make sure every room has at least two exits to the outside.
2) Install lighted exit signs with batteries (so they will stay on if the power goes out).
3) Avoid using candles and flammable decorations.
4) Have your wiring setup checked by a licensed electrician.
Why is it hearing about disasters like this really helps me to calm down? My "problems" are nothing.
My teacher had been one of the firefighters that night, he told us that the firefighters used ladders to climb up to the second floor and then ladders from the windows down in to the disco, he remember the feeling when the ladder touched soft bodys that had piled up beneath the windows but they were basically forced to keep going, and when they were inside they had to choose what child they would save, the smaller ones was easier to carry, took less time and therefor they could save more lives. He worked as a firefighter for a few more years but it became to much so he started teaching firesafety to schools and companies.
Every single aspect of the preparation was a hazard, the dread you feel watching this...
I often wondered if this story from my hometown would ever make it on the channel. I haven't seen it covered before.
I was thinking about this very “accident” while watching another of your vid’s. Thanks for featuring it. I was only 14 when it happened, but remember that some friends lost family members, and the outrage that fueled the conversation in the aftermath over safety and responsibility.
16 foot fall is crazy. It's like at the limit of death and serious injuries.
killed 20 people, basically, because they were upset about having to pay to get in? Imagine for a second what the people who died went through: In a dark room filled with smoke and screaming people, they were stomped to death.
Yes, 3-7 years is far too short of a sentence for these guys.
I mean even if they hadnt killed so many people (it was actually 60+), setting a fire for having to pay $5 is just absurd
Thank you for consistently providing clear and well-organized naration. You are the best.
I'm at 2:52, and I'm already horrified. Lied about the type of event, lied about the number of attendees, overwhelmingly exceeded maximum occupancy, applied flammable materials to the walls and lights, added in a smoke machine, and then to top it all off piled a bunch of stuff in the emergency exit stairwell. And the attendees are all so young...this is gonna be a tough one to get through the rest.
Thank you so much for being so respectful about this tragedy. As several others have said the city still feels the loss of the many people who died that day. I especially appreciate that you took the time to describe how the owners of the venue weren’t responsible. That’s usually what you first assume in cases like this, and they don’t deserve that. This was caused by teens, who like all teens felt like they were invincible, and that there wouldn’t be any severe consequences. It was a horrible tragedy, but I’m glad that you focused on the few positive details, such as the amazing effort made to save as many lives as possible, and the efforts made by the families to make sure this never happens again.
Thank you for sharing this story. I've lived close to Gothenburg my whole life, and I remember this day so well. I was only seven years old when it happened, so I couldn't fully grasp the extent of this event, but it is something that, the older I've gotten, the more it horrifies me. The senselessness of it all, the young lives lost... It's the definition of a tragedy. It is still the deadliest fire in Swedish history, with the closest one in modern time only having a third of the number of casualties.
I was not expecting to see this one. This was in my city, and people in pretty much every single school in Göteborg knew someone in the fire, including people in my class. I am usually not affected by watching these, but damn, this one brings up memories. If you mention diskoteksbranden i Backa, everyone still know what you are talkiing about to this day.
The moment he said there were over 300 people in a space meant for 50-150, all i could think of was "crush"
Never expected this to be here, I live in Stockholm myself but one of my relatives died in that fire
Great vid FH. RIP to the victims and condolences to their families. I wonder if the people who rented the venue faced some kind of penalty for not being honest about the guest amount.
8 years for 63 accounts of first degree murder is an absolute disgrace. Its the equivalent of a slap on the wrist. Life without any chance of being set free should have been the minimum
Sadly, the prison sentences in Sweden are in general very light. Only 2/3 are served on prison, the rest is out on probation.
This reminds me so much of the Ozone Disco disaster, the worst fire in Philippine history. No fire sprinklers and exits, defective fire extinguishers, emergency exit was blocked, and the doors of the only exit swung inward, trapping people. Most of those who died were high school and college students partying to celebrate end of term. You might be interested in looking into it
Amazing to hear such a situation coming from a place like Sweden - clearly youth and panic are universal.
Do you think you might be able to cover the Cromañon incident sometime?