 The riot took place after four Roma children were asphyxiated in the basement of an apartment block in the Zăbrăuţi area on November 13, as a result of a fire caused by candles.The children had lived with their mother in their dwelling for more than two years, and were obliged to light the basement with candles as they had no access to electricity.According to the administrator of the apartment block, none of the building's inhabitants had formal access to electricity for four years, with many people connecting themselves illegally to the electricity grid.