Bucharest Nightclub Death Toll Rises, Ex-Mayor Arrested

Thirteen more people died over the weekend of burns-related injuries after a blaze started by fireworks at a rock concert at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest on October 30, bringing the number killed in the tragedy to 46.

As protests blaming the fire on official corruption continued on Sunday, the authorities said the coming days would be decisive for the remaining patients who are severely injured.

"The next seven days will be the most difficult with regards to treating the wounded," Health Minister Nicolae Banicioiu said on Saturday.

There are still some 100 people in hospital suffering from burns, smoke inhalation and other injuries. Some 45 of them are in a critical condition.

Romania has started to send victims of the fire for treatment in clinics abroad, in Austria, Belgium, Israel and the Netherlands. Twenty were transferred abroad during the weekend.

Next week, hospitals in Norway, France, UK and Germany will also take some of the fire victims from Romania. A NATO plane came to Bucharest on Sunday to help with transportation.

The Romanian government will cover the costs for all patients treated abroad.

In related development, Cristian Popescu Piedone, the mayor of the district where the nightclub was located, was arrested Saturday, along with two town hall employees, for giving out a permit without it being authorised by firefighters. The mayor resigned last week, saying he was morally guilty over the fire.

In the meantime, thousands of protesters gathered late Sunday for the sixth consecutive evening, calling for better governance and an end to corruption.

President Klaus Iohannis, who visited the protesters late Sunday, is to resume consultations early this week with political parties over the...