Complete panic' as 232 killed in Brazil nightclub fire

[NoStateofMind]

Complete panic' as 232 killed in Brazil nightclub fire

A blaze at a Brazilian nightclub left 232 dead early Sunday morning, in what appears to be the world's deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade.

More than 100 were injured when the fire broke out at 2 a.m. in Santa Maria, Brazil, at a nightclub called Kiss, which was hosting an event for a local university.

Television images showed smoke pouring out of the nightclub as shirtless, young male partygoers joined firefighters in wielding axes and sledgehammers, pounding at windows and walls to break through to those trapped inside. Teenagers sprinted from the scene desperately trying to find help — others carried injured and burned friends away in their arms.

"There was so much smoke and fire, it was complete panic and it took a long time for people to get out, there were so many dead," survivor Luana Santos Silva told the Globo TV network.

Rodrigo Moura, identified by the newspaper Diario de Santa Maria as a security guard at the club, said it was at its maximum capacity of between 1,000 and 2,000, and partygoers were pushing and shoving to escape.

The fire may have started as a result of faulty pyrotechnics on stage during a live band performance, media outlet G1 reported.

Michele Pereira told the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper that she was near the stage and that the fire broke out after band members lit flares.

"The band that was onstage began to use flares and, suddenly, they stopped the show and pointed them upward. At that point the ceiling caught fire. It was really weak but in a matter of seconds it spread," Pereira said.

So sad. Looks like the band had a hand in it even if unintentional.

 

[HendrixFan]

One of the articles I read had people quoted as saying that the bouncers were blocking the exits because people needed to close out their tabs. Disgusting if true.

 

[NoStateofMind]

One of the articles I read had people quoted as saying that the bouncers were blocking the exits because people needed to close out their tabs. Disgusting if true.

OMG! Disgusting isn't even the end of it. Did they not see the flames/smoke? WTF?

 

[Doppel]

One of the articles I read had people quoted as saying that the bouncers were blocking the exits because people needed to close out their tabs. Disgusting if true.

Probably didn't realize that it was or was about to be a raging deathly inferno.

Also, I am surprised people are still using pyrotechnics of this manner indoors. It's what killed dozens in that club in the US a few years back, too.

next time you're ever at a club and the fireworks start, get to the exists immediately.