Ozone Disco fire

Ozone Disco was located near the 11th World Scout Jamboree Memorial Rotonda along Timog Avenue. Prior to opening in 1991, the site housed a jazz club owned by Sergio Orgaoow called "Birdland" which operated from 1978 until 1990.{{cite web |author=Ducky Paredes |date=March 22, 1996 |title=The Fire in the Ozone |url=http://www.duckyparedes.com/archives/Malaya_Archive/1996/1996.03.22.Malaya.doc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200045/http://www.duckyparedes.com/archives/Malaya_Archive/1996/1996.03.22.Malaya.doc |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=January 29, 2008 |work=Ducky Paredes:Columns from Malaya and Abante |publisher=Malaya |format=DOC}} The building and lot were then sold to owner and president of Westwood Entertainment Company, Inc., Hermilo Ocampo.{{cite web |author=Philippine Court of Appeals |author-link=Philippine Court of Appeals |date=October 25, 2005 |title=Chua v. Pua, CA-G.R. CV No. 80583 |url=http://ca.supremecourt.gov.ph/cardis/CV80583.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529204233/http://ca.supremecourt.gov.ph/cardis/CV80583.pdf |archive-date=May 29, 2008 |access-date=January 29, 2008 |publisher=Supreme Court of the Philippines}}

Ozone Disco officially opened in 1991 and became a popular spot in Quezon City for students and young professionals in the mid-'90s.

The fire broke out just before midnight on 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.{{cite news |first=Sol Jose |last=Vanzi |title=Light Sentences for Ozone Disco Owners |url=http://www.newsflash.org/2001/03/hl/hl013279.htm |work=Newsflash |publisher=Philippine Headline News Online |date=March 12, 2001 |access-date=January 29, 2008 |archive-date=April 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419044206/http://www.newsflash.org/2001/03/hl/hl013279.htm |url-status=dead }} Majority of the club guests were high school and college students attending graduation or end-of-the-school-year celebrations.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |title=At Least 150 Are Killed in Disco Fire in Manila |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E2DC1739F93AA25750C0A960958260 |work=New York Times Online |date=March 19, 1996 |access-date=January 29, 2008 |archive-date=March 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311080341/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E2DC1739F93AA25750C0A960958260 |url-status=live }} Survivors reported seeing sparks flying inside the disc jockey's booth shortly before midnight, followed by smoke which they thought was part of the DJ's party plan. Another survivor added that after about 15 seconds of smoke, the electrical systems of the disco shut down; flames quickly became visible.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDB9PHDoNPs&nohtml5=False |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/PDB9PHDoNPs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Throwback: 1996 TVP report on Ozone fire|date=November 20, 2014|access-date=April 14, 2016|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} The DJ, another survivor, recalled the microphone died as he was about to warn everyone about the fire.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/19/world/at-least-150-are-killed-in-disco-fire-in-manila.html |title=At Least 150 Are Killed in Disco Fire in Manila |date=March 19, 1996 |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |access-date=August 5, 2024}}

Many of the bodies were discovered along the corridor leading to the only exit, piled up waist-high. Through initial investigations, it was determined that no proper fire exit was installed; Quezon City officials were quoted as saying that the club's only known emergency exit was blocked by a new building next door, which journalists stated that the aforementioned emergency exit only led to the female restroom of an adjoining establishment. It was also reported that the exit had been locked from the outside by the club's security guards, who had thought that a riot had taken place.

The final death count was reported as between 160{{cite news |title=What went before |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view_article.php?article_id=84162 |work=Inquirer.net |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=August 23, 2007 |access-date=January 29, 2008 |archive-date=March 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312214508/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view_article.php?article_id=84162 |url-status=live }} and 162 people, the latter being the figure cited by the trial court that heard the ensuing criminal case. In addition, at least 95 people were injured. The death toll was one of the worst ever for a nightclub fire, though it was subsequently surpassed by the República Cromañón nightclub fire.

Six people involved with Westwood Entertainment were tried before the courts for criminal charges of "reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and multiple serious injuries". On March 16, 2001, the president of Westwood Entertainment, Hermilo Ocampo, and the corporation's treasurer, Ramon Ng, were found guilty by a Quezon City trial court and sentenced to a four-year prison term, and fined 25 million pesos each. They and their co-accused (who were acquitted) were also ordered to indemnify the families of the deceased 150,000 pesos, and 100,000 pesos to the injured. The trial court concluded that Ocampo and Ng failed to provide fire exits and sprinklers inside the establishment, that the fire extinguishers they placed were defective, and that the lone exit was through a small door that swung inward and did not meet the standard set by the building code. A former employee who was among the survivors of the fire has claimed that the inward swinging doors were installed because it was good feng shui.{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/652226/nightclub-door-that-trapped-fire-victims-supposedly-good-feng-shui|title=Nightclub door that trapped fire victims supposedly 'good feng shui'|author=Jaymee T. Gamil|work=inquirer.net|date=November 22, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2015|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722004738/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/652226/nightclub-door-that-trapped-fire-victims-supposedly-good-feng-shui|url-status=live}}

In November 2001, twelve officials of the Quezon City government were charged before the Sandiganbayan 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". In 2007, one of the twelve – the former city engineer and building official of Quezon City, Alfredo Macapugay – was discharged from criminal and civil liability after the Sandiganbayan concluded that he had no hand in the issuance of the necessary permits to Ozone Disco management.{{cite news |first=Jocelyn |last=Uy |title=Ex-city engineer cleared in Ozone case |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view_article.php?article_id=84122 |work=Inquirer.net |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=August 22, 2007 |access-date=January 29, 2008 |archive-date=March 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312214420/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/metro/view_article.php?article_id=84122 |url-status=live }}

On November 20, 2014, seven officials of the Quezon City government were found guilty under the Philippines' anti-graft and corrupt practices law by the country's anti-graft court Sandiganbayan. They were held liable for negligence in connection with the approval of the building permit and issuance of certificates of occupancy for the company which owned Ozone. The club's owners were also found to be liable.{{Cite news |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/652030/after-18-years-9-found-guilty-in-ozone-inferno |title=After 18 years, 9 found guilty in Ozone inferno |last1=Gamil |first1=Jaymee |first2=Kristine Felisse |last2=Mangunay |first3=Marlon |last3=Ramos |date=November 21, 2014 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=March 16, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=March 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317035836/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/652030/after-18-years-9-found-guilty-in-ozone-inferno |url-status=live }} The court affirmed its decision in April 2015.{{Cite web |last=Cayabyab |first=Marc Jayson |date=2015-04-24 |title=Sandiganbayan denies appeals of Ozone Disco fire convicts |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/687536/sandiganbayan-denies-appeals-of-ozone-disco-fire-convicts |access-date=2022-07-02 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en |archive-date=July 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702052940/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/687536/sandiganbayan-denies-appeals-of-ozone-disco-fire-convicts |url-status=live }}

The structure, which housed the Ozone Disco, remained standing in Timog Avenue, Quezon City but was not commercially used for over 20 years after the incident.{{cite news |author=Johanna Sampan |title=Ozone Disco tragedy remembered |url=http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/mar/18/yehey/metro/20080318met8.html |publisher=Manila Times |date=March 18, 2008 |access-date=May 2, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080402010048/http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/mar/18/yehey/metro/20080318met8.html |archive-date = April 2, 2008}} For a few years after the incident, there was a makeshift memorial on the site featuring photographs of the victims.{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2014/03/05/1297275/ozone-disco-fire|title=Ozone Disco fire|first=Korina|last=Sanchez|website=Philstar.com}} This has since been dismantled, and no marker or official memorial commemorates the incident or its victims.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theurbanroamer.com/ozone-disco-remembering-the-tragedy/|title=Ozone Disco: Remembering the Tragedy|date=November 21, 2014|access-date=March 5, 2021|archive-date=December 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217011224/https://www.theurbanroamer.com/ozone-disco-remembering-the-tragedy/|url-status=live}}

In March 2015, a week before the 19th anniversary of the tragedy, the Ozone Disco building was finally demolished. Relatives of the victims still visit the site.{{cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/02/17/15/last-look-ozone-disco|title=Last Look: Ozone Disco|author=Fernando G. Sepe, Jr.|date=February 17, 2015|work=ABS-CBN News|access-date=April 14, 2016|archive-date=April 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426122037/http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/02/17/15/last-look-ozone-disco|url-status=live}} As of October 2016, the former location of the Ozone Disco Club is currently occupied by a branch of the rice porridge chain GoodAh!!!, co-owned by television host Boy Abunda.{{cite news|url=http://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/food/34017/remember-the-former-ozone-disco-its-now-a-food-chain-owned-by-boy-abunda?ref=latest_feed_1|title=Remember the former Ozone Disco? It's now a food chain owned by Boy Abunda|publisher=Philippine Entertainment Portal|last=Llanera|first=Melba|date=October 13, 2016|access-date=October 13, 2016|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107023001/http://www.pep.ph/lifestyle/food/34017/remember-the-former-ozone-disco-its-now-a-food-chain-owned-by-boy-abunda?ref=latest_feed_1|url-status=live}}

• This incident was featured on two ABS-CBN shows:
• The Philippine reality crime and investigative documentary show Calvento Files, revisited the case in an episode, titled "Mga Biktima ng Ozone",{{cite web |title=Calvento Files: Biktima ng Ozone feat. Diether Ocampo/ Marvin Agustin (Full Episode 18) {{!}} Jeepney TV |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH24nmRemwc |website=Youtube.com |publisher=Jeepney TV |access-date=28 October 2022 |language=en |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028035633/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH24nmRemwc&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }} aired in March 29, 1996.
• The horror docudrama series Nginiig aired an episode on the incident during its Jericho Rosales era in late-2004.
• The incident was featured thrice on GMA Network shows:
• Lihim ng Gabi also featured the incident in one of its episodes in 1996.
• Public affairs investigative journalism program Brigada Siete featured the incident a few days after the incident.
• The October 2, 2008 episode of the public affairs docudrama program Case Unclosed featured the incident and its aftermath as the pilot episode, directed by Adolfo Alix, Jr.{{cite AV media|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h0BhbGscPYU|title=ALAALA NG OZONE | Case Unclosed|work=youtube.com|url-status=live}} Two days before the premiere of Case Unclosed, on September 29, 2008, then-Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., father to incumbent Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte, released an ordinance that requires the owners of entertainment establishments to use swing-in/swing-out doors.
• The fire is the subject of the song "OZONE (Itulak ang Pinto)" from Unique Salonga's album Grandma.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rappler.com//entertainment/music/209596-unique-salonga-grandma-album-review|title='Grandma' sees Unique Salonga carving his own musical path|first=Emil|last=Hofileña|website=Rappler|date=August 16, 2018|access-date=March 17, 2019|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212002328/https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/209596-unique-salonga-grandma-album-review|url-status=live}}

{{Portal|1990s|Philippines}}

• List of nightclub fires
• Luoyang Christmas fire December 25, 2000; Luoyang, People's Republic of China; 309 dead
• Manor Hotel fire – second worst fire in the Philippines, happened in August 2001 also in Quezon City
• Kentex slipper factory fire – third worst fire in the Philippines, happened in May 2015

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/652226/nightclub-door-that-trapped-fire-victims-supposedly-good-feng-shui?PageSpeed=noscript|last=Gamil|first=Jaymee T.|title=Nightclub door that trapped fire victims supposedly 'good feng shui'|date=November 22, 2014|publisher=Inquirer.net}}

{{Nightclub fires}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ozone Disco Club Fire}}

Category:1996 disasters in the Philippines

Category:1990s fires in Asia

Category:1996 fires

Category:Fire disasters involving barricaded escape routes

Category:Urban fires in the Philippines

Category:History of Quezon City

Category:Man-made disasters in the Philippines

Category:March 1996 in Asia

Category:Nightclub fires