CINEMA DEATHS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29770, 13 March 1962, Page 17

CINEMA DEATHS

14 Syrians Suffocated

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter—Cnnyriaht) DAMASCUS. Mar-ti 11

Fourteen Syrians suffocated to death for lack of ventilation in a crowded cinema in the northern Svrian town of Idlib. Interior Ministry sources said today

All the victims were from 12 to 16 years old. Associated Press said. Twentyfour others were admitted to hosnital.

Tire tragedv occurred last Wednesdav—the first day of the Moslem Iftar feast in Syria, it turned the festivities into mourning. The town's children and <een-a-®er« swarmed into the only cinema house to e»e an American adventure film. Tire cinema owner repeated the film many times to crowded houses without intervals for ventilation. As a result, sources said, increased carbon dioxide in the closed bat] poisoned the air. When fire lights were turned on and crowds began to .leave at midday, many children and attendants collapsed. Fourteen died before the arrival of ambulances and 24 others were taken to hospital. The cinema owner an’ all his employees have been arrested, the sources said. The Syrian President. Nazem Kusdi. has sent a message of sympathy to the victims’ families and the Minister of the Interior (Ahmed Kanbar) ordered all feast decorations removed from the stricken town.