LIMA — 2002 · Major Tragedy

The Utopía Nightclub Fire

SolvedSources: ALast updated: 14 October 2026

On the night of 20 July 2002, at the Utopía nightclub in the Jockey Plaza shopping centre in Lima's Surco district, a torch used in a fire show ignited flammable acoustic material on the ceiling. In a venue that had handed out invitations far beyond its capacity and lacked proper licences and safety equipment, 29 young people died and more than 50 were injured, most affected by smoke. After lengthy proceedings, the club's managers were sentenced to prison for homicide by intent or omission; some convicts fled abroad and were extradited years later.

Date: 2002
Place: Santiago de Surco, Lima, Peru, Lima, PE
Category: Major Tragedy
Case Status: Solved
Coordinates: -12.0870, -76.9760 ↗

Timeline of Events

20 July 2002The ceiling caught fire during a fire show; 29 people died.
2002The National Civil Defence Institute (INDECI) issued an emergency report.

2014Two managers got 4-year sentences; both fled the country.
Later yearsThe fugitive managers were extradited to Peru.

Sources

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