Fire at Santa Maria night club leaves Brazil in mourning

A fire that broke out a night club in Brazil has killed at least 232 people

16:38 28 January 2013

A fire that broke out at a night club in Brazil at the weekend has left at least 232 people dead. The fire occurred at a Santa Maria club in the early hours of the morning where many students were said to have been partying.

 

Following the tragedy at Kiss night club, Brazil is now in mourning to remember the fire victims. The fire is thought to have been started by a firework being set off while a band was playing on stage, according to reports.

 

Although it is understood there will be an investigation carried out into the cause of the fire. Many of the victims may have died as a result of breathing in smoke.

 

There are also claims that there may have been problems with some of the club’s exits.

 

One partygoer spoke of their ordeal. Matheus Bortolotto told a TV interviewer: “A girl died in my arms, I felt her heart stop beating.”

 

The President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, has reportedly visited the city. She said: “It’s a tragedy for all of us, and I cannot continue here at the summit, because my priority is the Brazilian people.”

 

Following the incident in Santa Maria, which is located in the South of Brazil, the city has said there will be 30 days of mourning.

 

Santa Maria is situated in the central area of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. The South American country shares its borders with countries such as Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay.