A large fire destroyed the main three movie houses located in the northcentral city of San Francisco de Macorís. The Palacio del Cine, A, B and C movie halls were seriously affected. While several persons were treated with oxygen after inhaling the intoxicating fumes, no one was seriously injured, and everyone evacuated the premises in time. Dozens of persons were in the movie houses when the fire alarm went off, following a series of explosions of the gas units of the air-conditioners. The fire is believed to have been caused by a short circuit. The firemen had to use water from the cistern of the movie house and the Burger King restaurant to put out the flames.
