A fire at the L'Innovation
department store in Brussels, Belgium, kills 322 people on May 22
1967.
There were approximately
2500 people shopping in the store when fire broke out in the
furniture department on the fourth floor. However, almost no one was
aware of the fire because no fire alarm went off, nor were there any
sprinklers. The fire spread quickly because there were only a few
hand-held extinguishers on hand. Fire-fighters had problems to access
the store due to the narrow streets.
Panic set in when the
shoppers realized what was happening. Many suffered trampling
injuries after getting caught in the stampede of people trying to
leave the store. Several explosions were set off as the fire hit some
butane gas canisters in the camping area of the store. Many people
made it to the roof seeking an escape route; at least three died
jumping from the building. Most of the 322 fatalities were from smoke
inhalation. Evidence pointed to an electrical fire.
The building partly designed by
Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta was completely destroyed by the
fire.
Poster at the opening of the store in 1903 |
A l'Innovation shortly after the opening in 1903 |
Clip from a RTBF documentary (French)
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