At least 23 people died in a fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora village, North Goa, early Sunday, December 7, 2025. The fire broke out after midnight and was reportedly caused by a cylinder blast, according to Goa police. Eyewitnesses said the fire started on the first floor where tourists were dancing. The club was crowded with over 100 people on the dance floor. When the fire erupted, some rushed downstairs to the kitchen, where many got trapped along with staff. Most victims were kitchen workers, including three women. There were also three to four tourists among the dead, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed. Tourist Fatima Shaikh from Hyderabad described the chaos: "There was a sudden commotion as the flames started erupting. We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames." She noted that the club had a temporary palm leaf construction that quickly caught fire. The nightclub's location by the Arpora river caused problems for firefighters. Narrow lanes meant fire trucks had to park 400 meters away, making rescue and fire control difficult. Most deaths were from suffocation as victims got trapped on the ground floor. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the club did not follow fire safety rules. He ordered a probe and promised action against the club owners and officials who allowed it to operate. Panchayat official Roshan Redkar noted the club did not have proper permissions and faced legal disputes between owners. Calangute MLA Michael Lobo announced a fire safety audit for all nightclubs in the area and said clubs lacking fire safety clearance will face license cancellation. This tragic fire highlights the urgent need for strict safety checks and regulations in party venues.