Body identified

Star splashes outside a bar in Graz, then an inferno of flames

A devastating fire broke out in Sporgasse in Graz early on Monday morning.

(Bild: Sepp Pail)

New details have now emerged after a bar in the center of Graz started burning in the early hours of Monday morning, causing one death and 20 injuries, some of them serious. As the "Krone" newspaper has learned, the deadly inferno is likely to have been caused by star sprays that were ignited outside the pub. The identity of the deceased has also been established. 

A fire broke out in a pub in Graz's Sporgasse at around 4.00 a.m. on New Year's Eve. 21 guests were so seriously injured that they were taken to hospital.

Young woman died in the restaurant
Three people required intensive medical care and a young woman died in the fire. Her identity has now been established. She was a 21-year-old from the district of Mödling and her relatives were notified.

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Fotos

Burns and smoke inhalation
The fire broke out in the entrance area of the bar and spread to the furnishings and decorations. The smoke development is likely to have been strong and caused the many injuries, according to a further police statement on Monday afternoon. The injured had suffered smoke inhalation and burns.

Technical defect ruled out
It has since been announced: A technical cause of the fire has been ruled out. Investigators are assuming that the fire had a "subjective cause" and there are increasing indications that it was caused by star splashes and other small fireworks. Video footage published on the club's Facebook page shows these being set off by revelers outside the pub.

Video footage shows revelers setting off star sprays outside the pub. It is unclear whether this led to the fire.

(Bild: zVg, Krone KREATIV)

Candles for the victims of the fire were placed in front of the locked door of the pub.

(Bild: Jörg Schwaiger)

Witnesses wanted
Initial interviews have not yet yielded any new information, said police spokesman Fritz Grundnig. The police are therefore now asking possible witnesses to come forward.