How much more depraved can we get?

[Guest guest]

Bad enough that people are discussing the ethics of wildlife in a

zoo. Now this - Tiger and Lion in a smokey bar for drunks to revel

with?

 

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LIMA, Peru (CNN) -- At least 24 people died early Saturday when a

fire swept through a dance club that authorities said had no

sprinklers and poorly marked exits.

 

The Utopia club was celebrating two months of operation Friday with a

zoo-theme night that included a caged lion and tiger, both of which

also died.

 

After a fire-related act was performed near the disc jockey's booth

shortly after 2 a.m., flames were seen reaching the ceiling,

witnesses said.

 

Many inside the four-story club thought the fire was part of the act,

and applauded and cheered as flames licked the ceiling.

 

When it became apparent the fire had gotten out of hand, club patrons

tried without success to douse it by throwing their drinks at it,

witnesses said.

 

Within less than a minute, the lights went out and dense smoke filled

the club. Many of about 1,000 patrons fell on top of one another as

they stampeded toward the emergency exits, they said.

 

 

Peruvians comfort each other outside a Lima hospital on Saturday.

Lima District Mayor Carlos Dargent said Utopia was not licensed to

operate and had no sprinklers. Fire Commander Julio Nicolini said

three of the club's emergency exits weren't properly marked.

 

Dense smoke initially prevented firefighters from entering the

building. The firefighters brought the blaze under control in about

an hour after drilling a hole in the roof to allow smoke to escape.

 

Lima hospital sources said dozens of people were injured