The Ozone Disco fire in Quezon City, Philippines, occurred on March 18, 1996, leaving 162 people dead. It is officially acknowledged as the worst fire in Philippine history,[1][2] and among the ten worst nightclub fires in the world.[3][4]
Ozone Disco was located by the 11th World Scout Jamboree Memorial Rotonda along Timog Avenue. Prior to opening in 1991, the site housed a jazz club called Birdland, owned by Sergio Orgaoow from 1978 until 1990.[5] Orgaoow later sold the building and lot to Hermilo Ocampo, owner and president of Westwood Entertainment Company, Inc.[6][7]
The Ocampos then converted the site to a discothèque, capitalizing on the popularity of electronic music in the Philippines; they refurbished the building and added mezzanines. Ozone Disco officially opened in 1991, and became a popular spot in Quezon City for students and young professionals in the mid-1990s.
Incident
The fire broke out just before midnight on Monday, March 18, 1996. At the time of the incident, there were an estimated 350 patrons and 40 club employees inside Ozone Disco, despite the venue having a capacity of only 35 people.[1][7] The majority of the club guests were high school and college students celebrating graduations or the end of the school year.[8] Survivors reported seeing sparks flying inside the disc jockey's booth shortly before midnight, followed by smoke which they thought was a stage effect.[1] Another survivor added that after about 15 seconds of smoke, the electrical system of the disco failed as flames quickly became visible.[9] The DJ, another survivor, recalled the microphone died as he was about to warn everyone about the fire.[10]
Many of the bodies were discovered piled waist-high along the corridor leading to the only exit.[1] Through initial investigations, it was determined no proper fire exit had been installed;[8] Quezon City officials were quoted as saying the only known emergency exit was blocked by a new building next door,[1] which journalists stated only led to the female restroom of an adjoining establishment. It was also reported that securitybouncers had locked the main entrance from the outside, believing a riot had erupted.[7]
Casualties
The final death toll was reported at between 160[11] to 162 people, the latter cited by the trial court that heard the ensuing criminal case.[7] At least 95 people were also injured.[7] The high death toll was one of the worst ever for a nightclub fire,[8] though it was subsequently surpassed by the República Cromanñón nightclub fire.
Investigation and aftermath
Six people involved with Westwood Entertainment Company, Inc. were tried for criminal charges of "reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple serious injuries".[7][11] On March 16, 2001, Westwood Entertainment president Hermilo Ocampo and corporate treasurer Ramon Ng were found guilty by a Quezon City trial court and sentenced to a four-year prison term, and fined ₱25 million each.[7][11] They and their co-accused (who were acquitted) were also ordered to indemnify the families of the dead ₱150,000, and ₱100,000 pesos to the injured. The trial court concluded Ocampo and Ng had failed to provide fire exits and sprinklers inside the establishment, the fire extinguishers they placed were defective, and the only exit was a small door that swung inward and failed to comply the building code.[7] A former employee who had survived the fire said the inward swinging doors were installed as it was good feng shui.[12]
In November 2001, twelve officials of the Quezon City government were charged before the Sandiganbayan (the country’s anti-graft court) for reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicides and multiple serious injuries. They were accused of allowing Ozone Disco to secure a certificate of annual inspection in 1995 "despite the inadequacy, insufficiency and impropriety of the documents submitted by the owners".[11] In 2007, one of the twelve – former Quezon City engineer and building official Alfredo Macapugay – was discharged from criminal and civil liabilities after the Sandiganbayan concluded he had no hand in issuing permits to Ozone Disco’s management.[13]
On November 20, 2014, seven officials of the Quezon City government were found guilty by the Sandiganbayan of violating Republic Act No. 3019, known as the "Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”. They were held liable for negligence in connection with the approval of the building permit and issuance of certificates of occupancy to Westwood Entertainment Company, Inc., whose owners were also found liable.[14] The Sandiganbayan later affirmed its decision in April 2015.[15]
Former site and developments
For some few years after the incident, there was a makeshift memorial on the site featuring photographs of the victims.[16] This has since been dismantled, with no marker or official memorial remaining.[17] The structure which housed Ozone Disco stood along Timog Avenue in Quezon City, and was not commercially used for over 20 years.[18]
In March 2015, a week before the 19th anniversary of the tragedy, Ozone Disco’s building was finally demolished. Relatives of the victims still visit the site.[19] As of October 2016, the former site of Ozone Disco is occupied by a branch of the rice porridge chain GoodAh!!!, co-owned by television host Boy Abunda.[20]
The Philippine reality crime and investigative documentary show Calvento Files, revisited the case in an episode, titled "Mga Biktima ng Ozone",[21] aired March 29, 1996.
The horror docudrama series Nginiig aired an episode on the incident during its Jericho Rosales era in late-2004.
The tragedy was featured thrice on GMA Network shows:
Lihim ng Gabi featured the incident in a 1996 episode.
Public affairs investigative journalism program Brigada Siete discussed the fire a few days after.
The October 2, 2008 episode of the public affairs docudrama program Case Unclosed featured the fire and its aftermath as the pilot episode, directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr.[22] Two days before the premiere of Case Unclosed, on September 29, 2008, then-Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., father of incumbent Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte, released an ordinance that requires the owners of entertainment establishments to use swing-in/swing-out doors.[22]
The fire is the subject of the song "OZONE (Itulak ang Pinto)" from Unique Salonga's album Grandma.[23]
↑Ducky Paredes (March 22, 1996). "The Fire in the Ozone"(DOC). Ducky Paredes:Columns from Malaya and Abante. Malaya. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
1234"What went before". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. August 23, 2007. Archived from the original on March 12, 2008. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
↑Fernando G. Sepe, Jr. (February 17, 2015). "Last Look: Ozone Disco". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
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