Tragedies and Disasters - Ozone Disco

Summary

On March 18, 1996, the Ozone Disco Club in Quezon City, Philippines, was the site of a devastating fire that claimed 162 lives and injured 93 others. The tragedy, caused by an electrical spark in the DJ booth, was exacerbated by overcrowding, poor safety measures, and inadequate exits. The club's owners and several government officials were later found guilty of reckless imprudence and corruption, highlighting the critical importance of safety standards and the consequences of negligence.

Takeaways

• 🎓 March is a significant month for young adults in the Philippines, marked by graduations, holidays, and the start of the summer season.
• 🏙️ Ozone Disco, a popular nightclub in Quezon City, was the site of a tragic fire on March 18, 1996, which resulted in numerous casualties.
• 🔥 The fire began due to an electrical fault near the DJ booth, which quickly escalated due to the club's poor fire safety measures.
• 🚪 The club's entrance design, influenced by Feng Shui, required doors to be pulled open, which hindered a quick evacuation during the fire.
• 👥 The club was grossly overcrowded, with an estimated 350 guests and 40 employees in a space meant to accommodate only 35-100 people.
• 🚨 The building had no functional fire extinguishers or sprinklers, and the supposed fire exit was non-compliant and blocked, exacerbating the disaster.
• 🏥 The response to the fire was chaotic, with many victims suffering severe burns and asphyxiation due to the dense smoke and intense heat.
• 📜 A subsequent investigation revealed numerous safety violations, including an expired building permit and failure to adhere to the National Building Code.
• 🏛️ The tragedy led to legal action against the club's owners and city officials, with several being convicted and sentenced for their roles in the disaster.
• 🕯️ The Ozone Disco Club fire remains a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety and the consequences of negligence, and it stands as one of the worst fire incidents in Philippine history.

Q & A

What was the significance of March in the Philippines for young adults before the Ozone Disco tragedy?

March was a frantic month in the Philippines for young adults, filled with graduation ceremonies, semestral breaks, long weekends due to Holy Week, and the start of the summer season. It was a time they enjoyed for its freedom to engage in parties, celebrations, group outings, and various activities that defined their young, wild, and free lives.

When and where was the Ozone Disco located?

Ozone Disco was located near the 11th World Scout Jamboree Memorial Rotunda, along Timog Avenue in Quezon City. It was opened in 1991.

Who were the original investors of the Ozone Disco club?

The original investors of the Ozone Disco club were Hermino Ocampo, Rachel Campo, Alfredo Chua, Rosita, and her son Sonny Cool.

What was the layout of the Ozone Disco club?

The club had a 200 square meter space with several guest areas, a DJ booth, a dressing room, a long kitchen, a mini bar, two comfort rooms, a messenger above the minibar, and a large open dance floor occupying most of the center.

What was the significance of the doors' design at the Ozone Disco in terms of Feng Shui?

The doors were designed to be pushed when entering and pulled when leaving, as per Feng Shui advice given to the owner by an expert. This was believed to ensure that money would flow into the business in the same way the doors were swung.

What promotional event led to the overcrowding at Ozone Disco on the night of the tragedy?

The management offered a promo to all graduate students, which included a discounted price of 50 passes for the entrance fee and a 50% discount on drinks and food, leading to an overcrowded venue.

What was the initial cause of the fire at Ozone Disco on March 18, 1996?

The fire started from an electrical socket beside the DJ booth area where multiple extension cords were plugged in, hosting several electronics. It was triggered by a sequence of short circuits due to an overload.

How did the design and safety measures of the Ozone Disco contribute to the severity of the tragedy?

The club was overcrowded, had no functional fire extinguishers, no sprinklers, a non-functional fire exit, and the building permit was still a temporary one from the previous establishment. The mezzanine had also been added without updating the building blueprint.

What were the legal consequences for the owners and officials involved in the Ozone Disco tragedy?

In 2001, Hermino Ocampo and Ramon Nang were sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay damages. In 2014, seven QC government officials and the two owners were found guilty and sentenced to six to ten years in prison, with fines to the victims' families.

What is the current status of the Ozone Disco site after the tragedy?

The building was abandoned for years and eventually demolished in 2015. A fast-food restaurant now stands on the site, serving as a symbol of new life in the place.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 Joyful Anticipation Turns to Tragedy

March is typically a lively month for young adults in the Philippines, marked by graduations, holidays, and the onset of summer. It's a time for parties and celebrations, but on March 18, 1996, a celebration at Ozone Disco in Quezon City turned tragic. The club, opened in 1991 by Hermino Ocampo, was a popular spot for the youth, featuring a dance floor, DJ booth, and dining area. On that fateful night, a fire broke out, causing chaos and many casualties.

05:00

🔥 The Ozone Disco Fire Disaster

The fire at Ozone Disco started around 11:35 pm due to an electrical spark from the DJ booth area. The club was packed with students and young professionals enjoying a promotional night. The initial spark quickly turned into a full-blown fire, filling the club with smoke and triggering a blackout. Panic ensued as people tried to escape, but the club's design and a misunderstanding about the door operation led to a stampede and many being trapped inside.

10:01

🚒 Firefighters' Response and Aftermath

As the fire raged, the local community responded with shock and horror. Firefighters arrived and battled the blaze for over an hour before declaring it extinguished. The aftermath was grim, with charred bodies piled at the entrance. The fire's intensity and the building's design flaws contributed to the high death toll. The incident became a stark reminder of the importance of safety standards and the devastating consequences of negligence.

15:01

🏢 Investigation and Legal Repercussions

The investigation into the Ozone Disco fire revealed a series of safety violations and design flaws, including an overloaded electrical system, lack of proper fire exits, and overcrowding due to an aggressive promotion. The tragedy led to legal action against the club's owners and local government officials. The verdict, handed down years later, found several individuals guilty of corruption and negligence, resulting in prison sentences and fines for the victims' families.

20:02

🏚️ The Long Road to Justice

The legal battles following the Ozone Disco fire lasted for nearly two decades, with various cases filed against the club's owners and city officials. The final verdict in 2014 found several engineers and the club's owners guilty of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, leading to prison sentences and compensation for the victims. The tragedy underscored the critical need for adherence to safety regulations and the long-lasting impact on survivors and families.

25:04

🕯️ Memorial and the Legacy of the Ozone Disco Tragedy

The Ozone Disco fire remains one of the worst fire incidents in Philippine history. The building was eventually demolished, and a fast-food restaurant now stands in its place. The tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the importance of safety and the long-lasting effects of such events on individuals and communities. The incident continues to be commemorated, and the pursuit of justice for the victims highlights the importance of accountability and adherence to safety standards.

Keywords

💡Ozone Disco

Ozone Disco was a nightclub in Quezon City, Philippines, known for being a popular spot for young adults. The term is central to the video's narrative as it was the location of a tragic fire incident. The club's name is repeatedly mentioned, emphasizing its role as the central setting of the disaster.

💡Fire

Fire is a critical concept in the video, referring to the disastrous event that occurred at Ozone Disco on March 18, 1996. The fire resulted in numerous casualties and is the main focus of the video's recount. It is described as starting from an electrical socket and spreading due to poor safety measures and overcrowding.

💡Overcrowding

Overcrowding refers to the excessive number of people in a confined space, which was a significant factor in the tragedy. The video mentions that the club was packed beyond its capacity due to a promotional event, leading to a lack of space and escape routes, exacerbating the severity of the fire.

💡Promotional Event

The promotional event was a marketing strategy by Ozone Disco to attract more customers by offering discounted entrance fees and drinks. This keyword is tied to the tragedy as the event led to an unusually high number of visitors, which contributed to the overcrowding and the severity of the fire's impact.

💡Feng Shui

Feng Shui is a Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing with the surrounding environment, which the club owner believed in. The video mentions that the club's doors were designed to be pushed inward based on Feng Shui advice, which tragically impeded the escape of patrons during the fire.

💡Backdraft

A backdraft is a sudden, intense burst of flames that occurs when a fire in an oxygen-depleted environment is suddenly exposed to a rush of fresh air. In the video, the backdraft is a pivotal moment that led to numerous fatalities as people were trying to escape the club.

💡Safety Violations

Safety violations refer to the failure to adhere to safety standards and regulations, which the video identifies as a key cause of the tragedy. The club lacked proper fire exits, functioning fire extinguishers, and sprinkler systems, which could have mitigated the disaster.

💡Legal Consequences

Legal consequences are the outcomes of legal actions taken against those responsible for the tragedy. The video discusses the prosecution and sentencing of the club's owners and local government officials for their roles in the disaster, highlighting the video's theme of accountability.

💡Survivors

Survivors are individuals who managed to escape the fire. The video includes accounts from survivors, providing firsthand perspectives on the event. Their stories are crucial in understanding the human impact of the tragedy and the challenges they faced.

💡Memorial

A memorial refers to the act of commemorating those who lost their lives in the tragedy. The video mentions the demolition of the club and the establishment of a new structure on the site as a form of closure and remembrance for the victims.

Highlights

March is a significant month for young adults in the Philippines due to graduations, holidays, and the start of the summer season.

On March 18, 1996, a tragic fire at Ozone Disco in Quezon City claimed many lives, ending a night of celebration.

Ozone Disco was a popular nightclub among young adults, known for its affordable rates and lively atmosphere.

The club was renovated from a previous establishment and opened in 1991 by Hermino Ocampo.

The building was initially planned to be a residential house but was turned into a nightclub to capitalize on its commercial potential.

The club featured soundproof capabilities and a large open dance floor, making it a hit spot for party-goers.

A promotional offer for discounted entrance and drinks on March 18th attracted a large crowd, leading to overcrowding.

The fire started at 11:35 pm due to an electrical spark from overloaded sockets near the DJ booth.

The club's doors, designed per Feng Shui advice, could only be opened by pulling, which hindered the exit during the panic.

The fire caused a backdraft, a sudden burst of flames, which killed many instantly and injured others severely.

The official death toll was 162, with 93 injured, making it one of the worst fire incidents in Philippine history.

The building was overcrowded, holding four times the number of people it was structurally designed to accommodate.

The building's fire exit was non-functional, and fire safety equipment was inadequate or non-existent.

The tragedy led to legal proceedings against the club's owners and city officials for violations of safety regulations.

In 2001, the club's owners were sentenced to prison for reckless imprudence, and in 2014, several officials were also found guilty.

The building was eventually demolished in 2015, and a fast-food restaurant now stands in its place.

The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety standards and the consequences of negligence.

Transcripts

march is a frantic month in the

philippines for young adults

graduation ceremonies semestral breaks

long weekends brought by the observance

of holy week and the month which

officially kickstarts the summer season

in the country

they have always enjoyed welcoming this

month because this meant freedom to do

so many things that define their young

wild and free lives

parties celebrations group outings and

free time to do just about anything at

least for the next few weeks

on the eve of march 18 1996

one joy's celebration would come to a

grinding halt and would claim the lives

of many

hey

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

ozone disco is a cocktail lounge and

restaurant bar located near the 11th

world scout jamboree memorial rotunda

along timoch avenue in quezon city

it was opened in 1991 by hermino ocampo

operating under westwood entertainment

company incorporated who bought the land

and the building itself from the owner

of the previous establishment

the famous spurred land owned by serious

in the 80s

the initial idea was for the building to

be a residential house for the ocampo

family

however as a business-minded individual

hermino decided to renovate the building

and turn it into a nightclub

he looked for investors to build the

disco club and found four other

individuals who agreed to finance the

business

his wife rachel campo alfredo chua

rosita

and her son sonny cool

the 200 square meter club hosts several

guest areas a dj booth a dressing room

at the back a long kitchen a mini bar on

the left side

two comfort rooms on both sides at the

far end

a messenger above the minibar and a

large section of an open dance floor

which occupies most of the center field

the club profiles a rugged but sleek

persona with its acoustic foam

insulation and egg carton box swelling

allowing soundproof capabilities and

thus lessening the effects of the loud

disco music to outside establishments

the club has two doors structuring the

main entrance connected by a narrow 12

meter hallway where the reception desk

lies in the middle waiting for guests

this is also where people write their

entry into the club logbook and pay the

corresponding entrance fee

according to gerald loyola then waiter

for the ozone disco and also a survivor

of the tragedy

the doors are profiled to be pushed when

entering or to be pulled when leaving

because the owner is a firm believer in

feng shui

he added that this was the advice given

to the owner by a feng shui expert

believing that when doors are swung

inwards and in one direction only

money will flow for the business the

same way

the club would eventually gain

reputation and in a few years time

become a hit spot for young adults

because of its affordable rates

delicious food and rhythmic vibes

it was one dry and humid monday evening

of march 18th

most of the high school and college

students have already completed a school

year and more than ready to lavish away

their academic break time

be it true simple gatherings sleepovers

beach outings or as many at that time

celebrate and gear the night away at

disco clubs

in an attempt to entice these party

hungry individuals

the management of ozone disco club

decided to give a promo

a discounted price of 50 passes entrance

fee to all graduate students

on top of a 50 discount on drinks and

foods

the night was prime

one by one then by groups

students and young professionals lined

up outside

slowly but surely the promo was starting

to look like a huge success

it was believed that by 9 pm the place

was already jam-packed and was just

breezing by and waiting to get the party

started

to students and graduates it was some

needed relaxation and enjoyment after

enduring almost a year worth of school

projects and assignments

triggering sleepless nights and restless

minds

to some professionals it was just to

spend some time chilling after a hard

day's work

as every individual wondered their way

inside they settled into their

respective zones

as for the eager ones the open dance

floor was their heaven

shrugging off some of the adrenaline due

to excitement

mood was slowly getting into full swing

while the attack no remix of classic

dreams by jd was playing with some

believing this was the music cue to get

the party started

at exactly 11 35 pm

a spark suddenly ignited from the socket

beside the dj in his booth area

where multiple extension cords were

plugged hosting several electronics

shortly after the spark climbed into the

ceiling setting at the blaze

arnold taguibo a survivor recalled his

friend confidently saying

arnold in his bewildered but amazed

state responded with

realizing the trouble

dj mervyn reyes hoped to address the

crowd about to matter and immediately

reach for the microphone but it didn't

function

forcing him to address a crowd against

the loudness of the music

he was then heard shouting

due to the statements of some survivors

they saw him fleeing the dj booth area

after shouting these words

another survivor account told that there

had been several folded paper receipts

on the ceiling where the electrical

sparks climbed

creating a vulnerable source of a

flammable material for the fire to

propagate immediately

after the fire in the ceiling started a

nauseating chemical smell black smoke

cast throughout the area

the dense black smoke almost made some

of the people vomit and lasted about 15

seconds which was then followed by a

blackout

some were already alarmed about the

matter but some carried on dancing and

drinking stilling the idea that this was

part of the show

which probably was reinforced by what

they heard from the dj

as a blackout enveloped the whole first

floor the small fiery embers looming on

the dj's booth area was in full display

in the eyes of the now hysterical people

the fiery embers cobbled with a dense

black smoke confirmed the gravity of the

situation to everyone and had them

rushing to the inner entrance door

hysteria was written all over the place

the crowd moving only one way out of the

disco rushed to the inner entrance door

banging each other in a never-ending

struggle to leave the premises

the big dilemma was the stampeding

people got crammed up in front of the

door and as has been mentioned before

the doors can only be opened by pulling

towards relieving the premises

there was no way the door was opening

with tents and hundreds of people lined

up and blocking its opening back

the club bouncers who were startled with

all the banging and noise inside

thought the commotion inside was a riot

and shut down the doors

mikaela reyes another ozone employee and

survivor recalled the locking was a

standard order issued to the guards by

the management

at that point people inside were now

suffocating from the smoke and had been

screaming

to the top of their lungs while

ferociously banging the door

sherlin bruen a survivor of the tragedy

recalled moments during the crisis in an

interview almost two decades later

she told people were clamping and

meleeing one another

shouting desperately and using every

inch of their might to knock and destroy

the door it was preventing them from

leaving the area

from what seemed like eternity of

pounding and shouting

the inner door was finally opened and

dragged inwards

which was followed by a large backdraft

breezing to the narrow hallway and out

the building causing the hundreds of

people blocking the door to fall

forwards all at the same time

those who wear their rear end of the

stampede most likely torched to death

those in the middle entered the door

suffered second and third degree burst

their hair

hands and back

some would horribly burn ears and cheeks

from the side of their faces

the wave of the backdraft was believed

to have instantly killed some of the

guests

but to the luck of some

this cleared the clogging unfortunately

paved the way for most the survivors to

finally clear the building alive goes

card and burned throughout

shirley and herself got second and third

degree birds on her hands as well as on

her neck frying her hair in the process

luckily enough she was one of the few

ones who managed to crawl her way out

after the backdraft

for context a backdraft is a sudden

burst of flames spiraling out by an

enclosure this mainly happens in oxygen

depleted environments where air does not

circulate enough in and out of the area

and so

fire does not combust properly

it is deemed a deadly scenario for

everyone especially firefighters trying

to infiltrate the confined spaces of a

burning building

as it seems unfortunate enough

the conditions at the disco that night

was the perfect spark plug for a

backdrop

so many people confined in a small space

an arid atmosphere

acoustic insulations riveting the walls

and the spark plug itself the fire

after the huge backdraft

some who made it alive were now able to

run

some were left unconscious

some heavily injured managed to crawl

into the demise of those charred to

death

their bodies were left tacked up one

after the other at the door

at this point the fire had begun to

spread to the majority of the building

burning everything combustible inside

including the collapsed human bodies

the mezzanine above the beanie bar had

also collapsed which had slammed down on

the bodies of some people panicking

killing them in the process

the fire had lasted for more than an

hour after the fire trucks arrived

even more burning the people that had

been left inside and shunning any

chances of survival however little it

was at that time

those who managed to escape safely

stared in horror at the burning disco

from the outside

some called and went home to the

families

those who needed immediate medical

assistance went to the nearest hospital

calls for help amidst the crying

survivors were echoing the streets of

teemock avenue at midnight

and only in a few hours the gruesomeness

of whatever happened inside were in full

display told survivors curious onlookers

and the local television media who had

arrived at the scene to report the

tragedy

viewed by millions of filipinos in the

early morning hours the next day

in the wee morning hours of march 19

local government units rushed through

the scene to provide rescue and

assistance to whoever or whatever was

salvageable at that point

firefighters were dousing the flames

ambulances came in carrying several

stretchers

and escaped partygoers rushed either to

their homes or to the nearest hospital

everyone was on the clock for safety

onlookers and media reporters clogged

the area trying to scoop every piece of

information they could hassle

people were supposed to be sleeping at

this time

but instead they find themselves shocked

and horrified by the crisis in front of

their eyes

the fire had lasted for more or less two

hours it was declared a flame out around

1 32 am that midnight according to

moises marcelo a firefighter respondent

as soon as the flame was towed safely

respondents carrying stretchers rushed

in and were the first to witness the

horrible aftermath

charred bodies

some stacked on top of the other where

several were found attacked three to

four bodies high on the door

stifled the eyes of the respondents as

they entered the 12 meter in arrow

hallway

it was a gruesome sight for anybody to

see

even for them who are used to seeing

this kind of human anomaly

respondents were quick to scour the area

for survivors

but it was a little too late

no one was alive by that time and the

place has become a charcoal reservoir

respondents then took the next step

recovered the bodies and safely carried

them to the ambulance

the odds were a little too heavy on this

one since as they tried to carry the

bodies one by one they found themselves

dealing with multiple human bodies

conjoined with each other

their skin almost melted away and glued

to the other person's body

it was a daunting task trying to

preserve any details of the charred

human for later identification

soon after they were able to move and

lift the bodies

they were carried on the stretcher and

then mobilized the ambulances waiting

outside where onlookers survivors and

media reports also had the first glance

of what happened to the people burned

inside

the remains of the charred people were

brought to the nearby la funerarya pass

memorial

where they wheeled laid out open on the

floor for identification by their

families

and so with the bodies recovered and the

fire put out leaving the building a dead

burn space

investigation is now formally begun

in the morning of march 19

quezon city mayor mel matai and vice

mayor herbert bautista visited decide to

inspect and instruct local government

officials to conduct a thorough

investigation of this tragedy

this investigation got rolling the

results of the effort would prove to be

tragic and disheartening to the families

and to the rest of the world

detailed below are the critical

investigation points that were reported

to the public following the months and

years of the tragedy

as officials had formally claimed as the

cause based on multiple survivor

accounts

the fire started on an electrical socket

by dj's booth area

which was triggered by a sequence of

short circuits because of an overload

engineer olegario tabernilla electrical

division of the qc engineer's office in

quezon city

suspected that there may have been a

consequent addition of electrical

circuitries that was not submitted to

their office for design approval

the ill-advised setup may have caused

circuit breaker's trip mechanism to fail

because of the overload that had

transpired

the official report filed iterate's

account at 162 dead people in 93 injured

with about 150 people either safe or

suffered minor abrasions that were left

off the injured list

the ludicrous amount of people inside

the club that night was indeed due to

the promo offered by the club

enticing hundreds of party goers to

avail a limited opportunity to chill and

enjoy one of the city's hot spots

it was a promo highly targeting

graduates which was the reason why so

many young people were killed in the

fire

however it was later revealed that while

the discounts only applied to fresh

graduates there was no profile screening

done for guests before entering the

premises

not even a single school id card to show

genuity and thus everyone looking adults

and enough was permitted to the venue

350 guests and 40 employees in a

confined 200 square meter area

all enjoying and squeezing every bit of

air and space inside

according to engineer alfredo macapugai

another member of the qc engineer's

office that time the structural master

plan of the building permits only 50 to

a maximum of 100 people inside

meaning the venue is almost four times

occupied it should have been legally

it was also important to note that while

the master plan permits 50 to 100 people

the qc local government approved a

building capacity of only 35 people

despite the owners claiming the building

had a fire exit a detailed investigation

revealed that the identified fire exit

door was simply another door which was a

tight walkway leading to the kitchen

area of the adjacent disco city of

france

the door was indeed an alternate exit

before

but it had no distinguishable details

that would identify it as a fire exit

and it was since then blocked upon the

establishment of the said club a few

years back

it was also revealed that while

employees knew of its existence

only one of them used it during the

panic

even more alarming details were that all

established fire extinguishers in the

building have been dubbed and useless

there were also no sprinklers installed

which could have at least doused the

flames enough when it was just starting

another shocking finding was that the

building permit was still the temporary

one issued to birdland the previous

establishment which ended five years ago

it was an important detail to

acknowledge as it was further found out

that ozone was originally allowed a

permit for a residential house another

commercial establishment

and so was a pass the temporary building

permit from the business before it was

used as a means to continue operation

a mezzanine was also put in place a few

years later after its establishment

this was an effort to expand the dance

floor area given the increasing number

of patrons as the club gained popularity

but this was not included on the initial

building blueprint nor submitted as an

updated one

multiple hearings are tried and several

cases were filed the following years but

it was only in march 16 2001 when

westwood entertainment president hermino

ocampo and treasurer ramon nang was

sentenced guilty due to reckless

imprudence resulting to multiple

homicide and multiple serious injuries

earning them four years in prison and

owing the victims a total of 25 million

pesos and damages concurred

there are also a number of pending cases

yet to be finalized at the time

later that year november 2001

san diego bayern charged 12 officials

with the quezon city engineer's office

with reckless imprudence resulting

multiple homicide and multiple physical

injuries

six years later san diego bayern ordered

acquittal of one of the 12 officials

alfredo makapuga for his role in

granting the building permit for the

operation of ozone disco

the case would finally come to its

conclusion 18 years after the tragedy

in november 20 2014

the court handed down the final decision

on the cases filed against westwood and

engineers district employees

in a 125-page decision read in open

court

judge of elia marquez handed the guilty

beyond reasonable doubt verdict to seven

qc government officials and the two

owners of ozone disco for violation of

section 3 of republic act 3019

or the anti-graft and corrupt practices

act

the engineer district officials are

alfredo macapugai feliciano sagana

francisco

also try their westward president

harmiulo ocampo and treasurer ramon nang

they were proven to be in collusion to

secure unwarranted benefits advantage or

preference on the approval of two

building permits and certificate of

occupancy for the ozone disco operation

despite the numerous design flaws and

safety inadequacies and without

conducting any safety inspection

all nine persons were sentenced to six

to ten years in prison and are liable to

pay 150 000 pesos to each of the

families of the dead victims while one

hundred thousand passes to the families

of those injured

judge marquez cleared the criminal

liability of four other people

raquel campo wife of hermino campo

alfredo chua rosita

and her son saniku

the decision cited they were merely

stockholders or directors of the firm

and had no direct supervision or

participation in the day-to-day affairs

of the establishment

the judge however ruled that all six

stockholders will share in the 150 000

peso at 100 000 peso fines to the

families of the dead and injured

according to the national building code

of the philippines chapter 7 section 708

a section for rules regarding minimum

requirements for group a dwellings it

states entrance and exit points of a

building that there shall be at least

one entrance and another one for exit

as you may have known there are

technically two doors on the building

but the one is unusable at that point

later that month

inquirer.net published a report stating

the court cited

the fire showed that the building

officials and conspiracy with the others

accused ignored the provisions of the

national building code

the supposed alternative exit which was

located at the vip lounge was actually

obstructed by a sofa and an lpg tank

which only led to a firewall

the decision also added the audacity of

westwood in the construction of ozone

disco club by evading compliance with

important provisions of the national

building code to suit its own business

purposes is simply overwhelming

there can never be slap dash approval of

a building permit and certificate of

occupancy

to shirk from this duty will certainly

run at risk all safety standards

contemplated by the national building

code

had the violations being averted at the

first instance

the magnitude of those who died and

those who continue to endure scars that

would haunt them for life would not have

happened

survivors and families of the victims

have moved on with their lives despite

the initial outcry of the court decision

being deemed a little weak calling it

cheap justice

for years the building has been

abandoned in its skeleton outlook

nobody took business in dealing with its

tragic history save for a few people who

come off into the place on the day of

the tragedy to light up candles and

memoriam of those who perished that

night

in march 2015 months after the verdict

and a week before the 19th anniversary

of the tragedy

the whole building was demolished

nailing the closure to a two-decade long

haunting and vying for a new sense of

life into the place

a fast food restaurant now lies on a

settlement

serving filipino dishes to the local

masses

the ozone disco club tragedy would then

be known as one of the worst fire

incidents in the world

seventh worldwide and the worst in

philippine history

for the survivors a resolution though it

came almost two decades later

shed some closure to a scar that has

been detrimental to them both physically

and

emotionally for the culprits it is a

grim reminder that nothing gets past

karma that it will always haunt you back

regardless of how long one endures

evading it

for everyone else it is a statement of

how safety is a paramount element of

human life

always and always will

[Music]

[Music]

so

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you