• At least 23 people have died following a fire at a nightclub in Goa, India.
• The fire was reportedly caused by a gas cylinder explosion, primarily affecting the venue's kitchen.
• Most victims were staff members; three to four tourists also perished in the blaze.
• Authorities indicated that the nightclub may have been operating without following safety regulations.
• A full investigation and fire safety audits of similar venues have been ordered by local officials.

At least 23 individuals lost their lives in a fire at a nightclub in the Arpora region of Goa late Saturday evening. The incident occurred when a gas cylinder reportedly exploded around midnight, leading to a rapid spread of flames throughout the venue, Birch by Romeo Lane. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant described the day as "very painful for all of us in Goa," confirming that many victims were staff members while stating that "three to four" tourists were among the deceased according to reports from BBC, Al Jazeera, and South China Morning Post.

The fire, which reportedly caused severe suffocation to many, predominantly affected kitchen staff, with three victims succumbing to burns while others died from the smoke. Eyewitness accounts described chaos as emergency services rushed to the scene, ultimately recovering all bodies after firefighters controlled the blaze, based on information from India Times and India Times.

Chief Minister Sawant announced that the nightclub had not adhered to fire safety regulations, and a formal inquiry into the incident has commenced. He confirmed that "strict action" would be taken against those responsible for allowing the establishment to operate without proper safety measures. As a precaution, fire safety audits of all nightlife venues in Goa will start soon, according to Le Monde and India Times.