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Brazil night club fire kills 232 in Santa Maria Brazil night club fire kills 232 in Santa Maria
(about 4 hours later)
At least 232 people have died in a fire that swept through a nightclub in a university city in southern Brazil, police and officials say.At least 232 people have died in a fire that swept through a nightclub in a university city in southern Brazil, police and officials say.
Local media say the fire began when a band let off fireworks at the Kiss club in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul.Local media say the fire began when a band let off fireworks at the Kiss club in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul.
Many victims reportedly inhaled toxic fumes or were crushed as panicking clubbers tried to escape.Many victims reportedly inhaled toxic fumes or were crushed as panicking clubbers tried to escape.
Bereaved families have gathered at the scene where the fire is out and bodies are being removed. Bereaved families have been weeping over the coffins of their loved ones at a gym used as a temporary mortuary.
Out of respect for the dead, Brazil postponed a ceremony due on Monday in the capital, Brasilia, to mark 500 days to the 2014 football World Cup.
The first funerals in Santa Maria are expected on Monday morning, local newspaper Diario de Santa Maria reports.
As of 21:00 GMT, the state authorities had released the names of 185 of the dead, without giving their ages.
President Dilma Rousseff, who cut short a visit to Chile, has been visiting survivors at the city's Caridade hospital along with government ministers.President Dilma Rousseff, who cut short a visit to Chile, has been visiting survivors at the city's Caridade hospital along with government ministers.
She said earlier that everything possible would be done to help the injured and the families of the victims.She said earlier that everything possible would be done to help the injured and the families of the victims.
First and foremost this is a national tragedy for Brazil which has not witnessed death on this scale at a public venue for decades. First and foremost this is a national tragedy for Brazil, which has not witnessed death on this scale at a public venue for decades.
The priority of course is to identify the victims and to support their families. But urgent questions are already being asked about how a tragedy of this scale was allowed to happen. The priority, of course, is to identify the victims and to support their families. But urgent questions are already being asked about how a tragedy of this scale was allowed to happen.
Is it true that a flare was lit during a performance on stage and this started the fire - and was this authorised? Who was responsible for ensuring this club had adequate exits, and again is it true that only one was available at the time of the tragedy, as some have claimed. Is it true that a flare was lit during a performance on stage and this started the fire - and was this authorised? Who was responsible for ensuring this club had adequate exits? And again, is it true that only one was available at the time of the tragedy, as some have claimed?
There will be pressure for these public safety issues to be urgently addressed, both for the sake of the victims, and as Brazil prepares to stage a series of major international sporting events over the next four years.There will be pressure for these public safety issues to be urgently addressed, both for the sake of the victims, and as Brazil prepares to stage a series of major international sporting events over the next four years.
"I would also like to say to the Brazilian people and to the people of Santa Maria that we stand together at this time, and that even though there's a lot of sadness, we will pull through," she said, speaking from Chile."I would also like to say to the Brazilian people and to the people of Santa Maria that we stand together at this time, and that even though there's a lot of sadness, we will pull through," she said, speaking from Chile.
In a tweet, the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Tarso Genro, said it was a "sad Sunday" and that all possible action was being taken in response to the fire. He would be in the city later on Sunday, he added.In a tweet, the governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Tarso Genro, said it was a "sad Sunday" and that all possible action was being taken in response to the fire. He would be in the city later on Sunday, he added.
A firefighter told BBC News he had never seen such a tragedy in his life, with the victims "so young".A firefighter told BBC News he had never seen such a tragedy in his life, with the victims "so young".
The priority for the authorities is now to identify the dead with many distressed relatives arriving at the scene, but in the hours ahead the focus will turn to the cause of this accident and safety procedures at the club, the BBC's Gary Duffy reports from Sao Paulo.The priority for the authorities is now to identify the dead with many distressed relatives arriving at the scene, but in the hours ahead the focus will turn to the cause of this accident and safety procedures at the club, the BBC's Gary Duffy reports from Sao Paulo.
The death toll, which had earlier been put at 245, was revised down by fire officials. Emergency services said a further 117 people were being treated in hospital.The death toll, which had earlier been put at 245, was revised down by fire officials. Emergency services said a further 117 people were being treated in hospital.
'Ceiling on fire''Ceiling on fire'
The fire broke out some time after 02:00 (04:00 GMT) when between 300 and 500 people are believed to have been in the club, where a band was playing.The fire broke out some time after 02:00 (04:00 GMT) when between 300 and 500 people are believed to have been in the club, where a band was playing.
According to local newspaper Diario de Santa Maria, students from the city's federal university (UFSM) were holding a freshers' ball.According to local newspaper Diario de Santa Maria, students from the city's federal university (UFSM) were holding a freshers' ball.
Thick smoke engulfed the venue after acoustic insulation caught fire, officials say.Thick smoke engulfed the venue after acoustic insulation caught fire, officials say.
"We looked up at the ceiling in front of the stage and it was catching fire," eyewitness Luana Santos Silva, 23, told Brazil's Globo TV."We looked up at the ceiling in front of the stage and it was catching fire," eyewitness Luana Santos Silva, 23, told Brazil's Globo TV.
"My sister grabbed me and dragged me out on the ground.""My sister grabbed me and dragged me out on the ground."
The exit, she said, was a "small door for lots of people to come out by".The exit, she said, was a "small door for lots of people to come out by".
The young woman's sister, Aline Santos Silva, 29, added: "We managed to see it in time and to get out quickly, before the smoke began to spread. The young woman's sister, Aline Santos Silva, 29, commended the emergency services: "Help arrived really quickly, ambulances, police."
"The smoke spread really quickly, it didn't give enough time for people to get out. I think people started to feel unwell, and then they began to come out covered in black smoke stains."
The witness commended the emergency services: "Help arrived really quickly, ambulances, police."
Fire crews tried knocking through an exterior wall to help those trapped inside to escape.Fire crews tried knocking through an exterior wall to help those trapped inside to escape.
Fifty bodies were found in the club's toilets, a doctor told AP news agency.Fifty bodies were found in the club's toilets, a doctor told AP news agency.
"The toxic smoke made people lose their sense of direction so they were unable to find their way to the exit," said Dr Paulo Afonso Beltrame, speaking by phone from Caridade hospital."The toxic smoke made people lose their sense of direction so they were unable to find their way to the exit," said Dr Paulo Afonso Beltrame, speaking by phone from Caridade hospital.
"Apparently they confused the bathroom door with the exit door.""Apparently they confused the bathroom door with the exit door."
Speaking to BBC Brasil, Sergeant Arthur Rigue, from the local fire department, said: "I never witnessed a tragedy like this in my whole career.Speaking to BBC Brasil, Sergeant Arthur Rigue, from the local fire department, said: "I never witnessed a tragedy like this in my whole career.
"These people are so young… There were many bodies piled up in various parts of the place. Some were in the toilet. They died of asphyxiation.""These people are so young… There were many bodies piled up in various parts of the place. Some were in the toilet. They died of asphyxiation."
Fire chief Guido de Melo told local media. "People started panicking and ended up treading on each other."Fire chief Guido de Melo told local media. "People started panicking and ended up treading on each other."
IdentificationIdentification
A temporary morgue has been set up in a local gym as the city's main morgue is unable to cope. A temporary morgue was set up in a local gym as the city's main morgue is unable to cope.
Family members have begun identifying the dead at the gym, Diario de Santa Maria reports. Family members came to identify the dead, led in one by one to see the bodies, Diario de Santa Maria reports.
They were led in one by one to see the bodies, according to the paper.
President Rousseff said the air force had made "resources" available at an air base near Santa Maria to help.President Rousseff said the air force had made "resources" available at an air base near Santa Maria to help.
Santa Maria has a population of about 250,000 people, while UFSM has some 27,000 students.Santa Maria has a population of about 250,000 people, while UFSM has some 27,000 students.
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