America News Agency

According to The Guardian, among the 25 people who died in the fire, which broke out around midnight at Birch by Romeo Lane — a popular restaurant, cocktail bar, and club in the Arpora area of northern Goa — were also tourists.

A preliminary police investigation found that the fire started on the first floor before engulfing the rest of the building, and that most of the victims were trapped in the club’s basement and died of suffocation.

Firefighters worked through the night to extinguish the flames and rescue those trapped inside. Authorities stated that most of the victims were club employees who were in the basement at the time of the fire. Officials at the scene also reported that “three to four” tourists were among the dead, though the identification process is ongoing.

The statement also noted that most guests had gathered on the first floor for a DJ set, and that the fire began at around 23:45.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the fire as “deeply saddening.”