Switel Hotel fire

Demolition of the Switel Hotel in 2004

The Switel Hotel fire took place on 31 December 1994 during a New Year's Eve party in the Switel Hotel at the Kievitplein in Antwerp, Belgium.

At about 22:50 fire broke out in the Tenerife party hall when the party decorations caught fire. Fifteen people died[1] and 164 people were severely injured.[2] Dutch singer Lee Towers was one of the guests at the party, he escaped unscathed but his wife Laura got severe burns.[3]

Luk Serré, the hotel's catering manager, was indicted for being responsible for the fire but later released from prosecution. Fifteen years later he released a book about his experiences.[1][2]

In October 2003 a permit was issued for the demolition of the hotel.[4]

Literature

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Brand in Switel: 15 jaar geleden". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Dutch). December 31, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 De Jonge, Stefanie (December 28, 2009). "15 jaar na de Switelbrand: hotelmanager Luk Serré stond als enige voor de rechter". HUMO (in Dutch). Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Lee Towers redt zijn vrouw Laura uit de Tenerife-zaal". Trouw (in Dutch). January 2, 1995. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Switel-hotel wordt gesloopt voor heraanleg Kietvitplein". De Standaard (in Dutch). Belga. October 9, 2003. Retrieved December 19, 2011.

Coordinates: 51°12′47.04″N 4°25′18.39″E / 51.2130667°N 4.4217750°E