Inferno at the Kiss nightclub: it's time to act and change.

From Agência Brasil

Brasilia - The fire that left 194 dead in 2004 at the República Cromañón nightclub in Buenos Aires, similar to the one that occurred this Sunday (27) in Santa Maria, in Rio Grande do Sul, caused a series of changes in security in nightclubs in the Argentine capital. The measures included more internal signage in nightclubs indicating the emergency exit; less tolerance regarding the limit of authorized public for each place and the placement of posters indicating the permitted number of people in the premises.

Buildings with more than one floor must now also regularly update information about the building's structural integrity, according to a document from the Government Control Agency (AGC) published on the Buenos Aires city government website.

The measures were defined after a meeting with business owners in the sector, musicians, architects, engineers, and groups representing the parents of the victims of that tragedy in República Cromañón. It is up to the AGC to verify that the safety standards are being met, according to official information.

In addition to new requirements for nightclubs, safety standards have also been defined and intensified for bars, independent theaters, clubs with live music, and tango halls, for example. These safety requirements must be respected before the venue opens and during its operation.

According to the city government, "citizens will be able to find out the licensing and operational status of the locations online."

The document states that large public events, such as recitals and parties, will require "special permits."

The new safety rules included decrees, resolutions, and laws. Many of the debates involved the participation of victims' families and were broadcast live on the country's main television channels.

In practice, the tragedy at the Buenos Aires nightclub generated a series of measures dubbed the "Cromañon Effect." Soon after the incident, which occurred on December 30, 2004, several nightclubs were shut down across the country.

Surveys at the time indicated that of the nearly 200 nightclubs in the city, only 61 met the new safety requirements. Police and judicial investigations revealed that the República Cromañón nightclub had an expired fire safety certificate, was operating at approximately three times its permitted capacity, and had problems with its emergency exits.

The investigation indicated that the use of pyrotechnics caused the fire, which generated deadly smoke. The rock band reportedly had a habit of using pyrotechnics in their shows, which they did not do that night, suggesting that the initiative may have come from the audience. The tragedy led to the arrests of businessmen and musicians, and the resignations of politicians in the city.

From BBC Brazil