Switel Hotel fire

The Switel Hotel fire took place on 31 December 1994 during a New Year's Eve party in the Switel Hotel at the Kievitplein in Antwerp, Belgium.

At about 22:50 fire broke out in the Tenerife party hall when the party decorations caught fire. Fifteen people died and 164 people were severely injured. Dutch singer Lee Towers was one of the guests at the party, he escaped unscathed but his wife Laura got severe burns.

Luk Serré, the hotel's catering manager, was indicted for being responsible for the fire but later released from prosecution. Fifteen years later he released a book about his experiences.

In October 2003 a permit was issued for the demolition of the hotel.