“My daughter is among 3-4 percent of young people who were not burned,” her mother told Agata Król of the national broadcaster Polish Radio.
The teenager had been at the Le Constellation bar with a group of friends when the fire broke out, triggering explosions. She was fortunate to be near an exit, which allowed her to escape. Although she sustained leg injuries, she avoided burns and other serious trauma.
Her friend, who was just steps behind her, was trapped by the panicked crowd and suffered severe burns to her arms and head.
Many of the young people at the bar sustained burns covering up to 60 percent of their bodies, and several were placed in medically induced comas.
Survivors described chaotic scenes as the fire spread from sparklers attached to champagne bottles, producing rapid explosions, toxic smoke, and extreme heat. The main exit was blocked, and the rear emergency exit was initially locked.
Local authorities have identified multiple safety failures at the venue. Le Constellation was registered as a bar rather than a nightclub, allowing minors to enter.
Fire inspections were reportedly outdated, emergency exits were not fully accessible, flammable materials were used in construction, and staff used pyrotechnics without implementing evacuation or fire-extinguishing measures.
The blaze claimed 40 lives and left more than 100 people severely injured, including two Polish citizens.
Investigations into the causes of the tragedy are ongoing.
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Source: Polish Radio/X/@PR24_pl