The Wuwang Club fire - Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China - September 21, 2008

A fire broke out just before midnight on September 21 at the packed "King of the Dancers Club" (S: 舞王俱乐部, P: Wǔ Wáng Jùlèbù) according to an official with the Shenzhen Work Safety Bureau.[1] The fire was started by a floorshow stunt involving fireworks that ignited the ceiling, plunging the club into darkness and causing the club-goers to panic and stampede towards the exits. The windows were boarded up and there was only one exit with a lit exit sign.
There were 308 people present in the club. Most of the deaths were caused by the crush of the stampede. Among the casualties were 5 people from Hong Kong, a 40-year old man who worked in mainland China and four 18-year olds; the latter group was celebrating a birthday of one of their peers.
The nightclub was operating without a building license and was not built according to building codes, because of government corruption.
Because it was a high-casualty fire caused by illegal indoor usage of outdoor fireworks, the 2008 disaster bore similarities to the 2004 República Cromañón nightclub fire in Buenos Aires, Argentina; the 2003 The Station Nightclub fire; the 2009 Santika Club fire in Watthana, Bangkok, Thailand (cause is disputed); the 2009 Lame Horse fire in Perm, Russia; and the 2013 Kiss nightclub fire in Santa Maria, Brazil.