5 Teenage Girls Killed When Escape Room Electrical Wiring Malfunctions

TVN News via APA fire engine stands outside an "Escape Room" game location in Koszalin, northern Poland, on Jan. 4, 2019. A fire broke out at the "Escape Room" game location, killing five teenage girls and injuring a man, authorities said. (TVN News via AP)

By AP Reports
Published January 5, 2019 at 4:23am

Polish firefighters on Saturday blamed substandard electrical wiring and lax security procedures at an “Escape Room” for a fire that killed five teenage girls and injured a man.

The bodies of the 15-year-old victims were found Friday in Koszalin, in northern Poland, after firefighters extinguished a blaze in an adjacent room.

Asphyxiation is the probable cause of the deaths.

A young man was hospitalized with burns. He was initially described as a 25-year-old, but the hospital said he was 26.

#BREAKING VIDEO #Poland 🇵🇱 Five teenage girls killed in escape room blaze in #Koszalin pic.twitter.com/Qzl4YCYAEF

— srb news (@srbnews0) January 5, 2019

Poland’s firefighting chief, Leszek Suski, said Saturday that electrical wiring at the location was makeshift and too close to flammable materials, while the man in charge was probably not there when the fire broke out.

“Security was not ensured and that led to the tragedy,” Suski said.

He said there was no proper evacuation route and a “lot of negligence” at the location.

‘Escape Room’ Fire in Poland Kills 5 Teenagers pic.twitter.com/kknMXjdWqO

— News For All USATODAY (@ForUsatoday) January 5, 2019

A spokesman for local firefighters, Tomasz Kubiak, said the units responding to the blaze had to use specialized equipment and force their way into the “Escape Room.”

Poland’s interior minister has ordered fire safety inspections at more than 1,000 “Escape Room” locations across the country.

Highly popular among teenagers in Poland, the “Escape Room” game has players locked inside a room or building and they must find clues that help them get out.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has sent condolences to the victims’ relatives. Officials have extended psychological and other support to the families.

The school that the teenagers attended was extending counseling and support to their friends and colleagues.

Local residents were placing flowers and lights in front of the location, a detached house.

The girls were celebrating one of their birthdays.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Submit a Correction

AP Reports

Summary

More Biographical Information

Recent Posts

Contact

The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands.

@AP

Facebook

The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.

Location

New York City