Health authorities in Buenos Aires said Saturday that a fire at a dance club killed at least 182 people and injured more than 700. The owner of the Republica Cromagnon discotheque, Omar Chaban, was arrested early Saturday, according to police, who also have identified the three youths who allegedly caused the fire by lighting a firework inside the building, setting the roof on fire. It was not known whether the three youths were among the victims of Thursday night's fire, which broke out during a rock concert at the discotheque in the Jewish and Korean-dominated Once district near the city center. Anibal Ibarra, mayor of Buenos Aires, said the tragedy was caused by the "irresponsible behaviour" of visitors, blocked emergency exits and overcrowding inside the building. Large numbers of people were still being treated for major burns and asphyxia in local hospital, Ibarra said. About 100 of the 714 people injured were in critical condition, news reports said. Ibarra rejected accusations made by the ombudsman of Buenos Aires, who said the city was to blame in part because of a lack of controls. The building had a capacity of 1,300, but between 3,000 and 6,000 people were inside the club to attend the concert when the fire broke out, according to media reports. Although the blaze was quickly contained, the smoke, darkness and panic among club-goers trying to escape was responsible for the large-scale tragedy, officials said. Most of the dead succumbed to smoke inhalation. The Cronica TV network said the owners of the disco had been warned repeatedly by authorities in the past to implement more safety measures. Earlier reports said, only one emergency exit had been open during the fire.
