Bygone places of Mexico City / Lobohombo Nightclub, site of the tragic 2000 fire
Once hailed as one of the top nightclubs in the 80s and 90s, it tragically transformed into a deadly inferno, claiming the lives of 22 people.
By Alejandro Pohlenz
It was a jungle (literally) of highly flammable polyurethane foam. Celebrities, businessmen, people from the entertainment world and "elite young people" (formerly called pirrurris) flocked to the Lobohombo nightclub (its name refers to the werewolf, obviously) located in the San Rafael neighborhood; in other words, "the cream of the crop" of Mexico City. In addition to its "normal" operation, the club (formerly called a disco) hosted special events and frequent private parties, which, they say, were authentic covens.
When did Lobohombo begin?
Lobohombo started in the 80s. Its owners were businessmen Alejandro Iglesias and Antonio Grez; it was a very large space and had the most non-plus-ultra-top in sound equipment, video, lights, lasers and special effects. Upstairs, on a kind of circular terrace you could see attractive girls dancing to the rhythm of disco music.
It was, according to some sources, "the most modern discotheque in Latin America." Yes, it was a great club, but also a great trap. After the fire that occurred on October 20, 2000, numerous irregularities were revealed.
Deadly anomalies
To begin with, the club was operating after the permitted hour: at 5:00 a.m. There was a private party. Secondly, as I mentioned, everything was covered in polyurethane, not only as jungle-like decoration, but to stifle the sound. Thirdly (and this magnified the tragedy) the emergency doors were closed with padlocks (so that customers would not leave without paying).
22 dead and 40 injured were the result of negligence. Currently, on the site of the ill-fated Lobohombo, there is a fire station: those who risked their lives to extinguish Hell.
Permanently Disappeared
Address: Avenida Insurgentes Norte 95, San Rafael neighborhood, Mexico City.
