This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/28/santa-maria-fire-funerals-brazil
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Santa Maria fire: first funerals held as Brazil declares three days of mourning | Santa Maria fire: first funerals held as Brazil declares three days of mourning |
| (10 days later) | |
| Funerals have been held for some of the 231 victims of a Brazilian nightclub fire that has raised broader questions about the safety standards of the next host of the World Cup and Olympics. | Funerals have been held for some of the 231 victims of a Brazilian nightclub fire that has raised broader questions about the safety standards of the next host of the World Cup and Olympics. |
| As the names of the dead were released, the government declared three days of mourning. A ceremony marking 500 days to the World Cup was cancelled. | As the names of the dead were released, the government declared three days of mourning. A ceremony marking 500 days to the World Cup was cancelled. |
| Doctors said 80 survivors remained in serious condition, some with burns, many with lung damage caused by inhaling toxic fumes, and others with injuries sustained in the stampede to escape from the blaze in the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria. | Doctors said 80 survivors remained in serious condition, some with burns, many with lung damage caused by inhaling toxic fumes, and others with injuries sustained in the stampede to escape from the blaze in the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria. |
| "It is a tragedy for all of us," said the president, Dilma Rousseff, who cut short meetings in Chile to fly to Santa Maria – her home town – to visit survivors and console those who lost loved ones. | "It is a tragedy for all of us," said the president, Dilma Rousseff, who cut short meetings in Chile to fly to Santa Maria – her home town – to visit survivors and console those who lost loved ones. |
| The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, released a statement expressing his "condolences to the families and friends of those whose lives were lost, as well as to the Brazilian government and people at large at this time of national mourning". | The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, released a statement expressing his "condolences to the families and friends of those whose lives were lost, as well as to the Brazilian government and people at large at this time of national mourning". |
| Most of those inside the club were students. Twitter and Facebook pages showed scenes of revelry, then calls for help when the fire began, then anxious inquiries from friends, and finally words of grief and remembrance as the identities of the dead were confirmed. | Most of those inside the club were students. Twitter and Facebook pages showed scenes of revelry, then calls for help when the fire began, then anxious inquiries from friends, and finally words of grief and remembrance as the identities of the dead were confirmed. |
| There were allegations of lax safety standards, including fireworks on stage, an expired operating licence, overcrowding, poorly maintained emergency equipment, and only one exit. | There were allegations of lax safety standards, including fireworks on stage, an expired operating licence, overcrowding, poorly maintained emergency equipment, and only one exit. |
| Witnesses claimed the venue was filled beyond capacity for a performance by a band, Gurizada Fananguiera, who use pyrotechnics for their show. Fire department officials confirmed that the blaze began when the performers raised three flares, one of which ignited foam-like soundproofing material on the ceiling. | Witnesses claimed the venue was filled beyond capacity for a performance by a band, Gurizada Fananguiera, who use pyrotechnics for their show. Fire department officials confirmed that the blaze began when the performers raised three flares, one of which ignited foam-like soundproofing material on the ceiling. |
| With only one exit, there was a panic to escape. Several witnesses quoted in the local media said security guards initially blocked the way out because they mistook the stampede for a fight and feared customers were trying to leave without paying. The custom in many Brazilian clubs is to run up a tab and pay on the way out. | With only one exit, there was a panic to escape. Several witnesses quoted in the local media said security guards initially blocked the way out because they mistook the stampede for a fight and feared customers were trying to leave without paying. The custom in many Brazilian clubs is to run up a tab and pay on the way out. |
| A security guard tried to tackle the fire with an extinguisher but it failed to work properly. Amid the smoke and confusion many people appear to have mistaken toilet signs for emergency exits, according to firemen who found victims piled up in the toilets. | A security guard tried to tackle the fire with an extinguisher but it failed to work properly. Amid the smoke and confusion many people appear to have mistaken toilet signs for emergency exits, according to firemen who found victims piled up in the toilets. |
| Officials said the club's operating licence expired in July. The owner has been questioned by police. | Officials said the club's operating licence expired in July. The owner has been questioned by police. |
| The lack of safety measures at the club was far from exceptional – for Brazil or elsewhere. There were death tolls of 100 or more in entertainment venue fires in Rhode Island in 2003, Argentina in 2004 and Russia in 2009. But as the second deadliest fire in Brazil's history, the tragedy in Santa Maria looks likely to provoke some soul-searching about the dangers of inadequate investment in infrastructure, particularly before the influx of millions for the world's two biggest sporting events. | The lack of safety measures at the club was far from exceptional – for Brazil or elsewhere. There were death tolls of 100 or more in entertainment venue fires in Rhode Island in 2003, Argentina in 2004 and Russia in 2009. But as the second deadliest fire in Brazil's history, the tragedy in Santa Maria looks likely to provoke some soul-searching about the dangers of inadequate investment in infrastructure, particularly before the influx of millions for the world's two biggest sporting events. |
| Many have already begun drawing a connection to wider systemic problems. The opinion writer Igor Gielow wrote that it was sad and symbolic that the tragedy occurred on the same day that the first of the venues renovated for the World Cup – the Castelão stadium in Fortaleza – staged its first game. | Many have already begun drawing a connection to wider systemic problems. The opinion writer Igor Gielow wrote that it was sad and symbolic that the tragedy occurred on the same day that the first of the venues renovated for the World Cup – the Castelão stadium in Fortaleza – staged its first game. |
| "This was intended to inaugurate a new phase in mass entertainment in Brazil and to sell the idea that our country has the organisational capacity to host large, global events, but reality showed its face at the nightclub Kiss," he wrote in the Folha de São Paulo, | "This was intended to inaugurate a new phase in mass entertainment in Brazil and to sell the idea that our country has the organisational capacity to host large, global events, but reality showed its face at the nightclub Kiss," he wrote in the Folha de São Paulo, |
| Others speculated about possible corruption or lax oversight. Reinaldo Azevedo, writing on the Veja news website, asked why the fire department had previously approved a venue with only one exit. "Our grief must also exercise wrath," he wrote. "This is not a tragedy manufactured by chance. It is the work of a chain of negligence." | Others speculated about possible corruption or lax oversight. Reinaldo Azevedo, writing on the Veja news website, asked why the fire department had previously approved a venue with only one exit. "Our grief must also exercise wrath," he wrote. "This is not a tragedy manufactured by chance. It is the work of a chain of negligence." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |