The fire at the Colectiv nightclub on October 30 has now killed 45 people. More than 60 victims are in critical condition and need medical treatment abroad.

Dozens of victims of the tragedy at the Colectiv nightclub club are still in critical condition. Over 100 wounded people are hospitalized in 11 facilities across Bucharest. Over 60 of them are in critical condition, and four of the victims are 15 years old. Romanian authorities argue that hospitals have everything they need, but at the same time expect many of the 60 people who are in critical condition to die.

Put politics aside

Several organizations of Romanians who live abroad and NGOs in Romania have called on both Romanian European Commissioner Corina Cretu and the Romanian authorities to put aside political hypocrisy and seek help from abroad for the victims.

The Romanian medical system has been affected by chronic underfunding for years and the care provided to the wounded is limited to what the existing hospitals can offer. Doctors admit that treating burns requires the most expensive treatments and are informally advising the families of the wounded to send them abroad. Officially, however, nobody admits this harsh reality, due to fears of political repercussions.

Death toll climbs

So far only a few of the wounded have managed to reach hospitals in Israel and the Netherlands, but at the expense of their families. Due to public pressure, the Romanian state was quick to promise funding for such cases and transport by military planes.

Yet the first victims were transferred only a full week after the tragedy. Eight people have now been transported this way to hospitals in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Israel. Two of the wounded died while traveling.

As of November 9, the death toll reached 45, with 7 having died on Sunday alone.

Urgent need for specialists

The situation is dramatic and urgent. Every day of delay can be the difference between life and death. The groups call on the authorities to establish partnerships with hospitals in EU countries that can provide specialists to help care for the wounded.

The fire at the Colectiv nightclub occurred on October 30, during a rock concert attended by about 500 people. Popular indignation caused by this tragedy drew tens of thousands into the streets of Bucharest and other Romanian cities. The protests led to the resignation of Victor Ponta's cabinet.