Brazil mourns victims of nightclub fire
Shocked survivors on Monday were mourning the victims of a nightclub blaze that left more than 230 people dead and over 100 injured, with many still fighting for their lives.
Brazilians on Monday were mourning the victims of a nightclub blaze in a small university town that left more than 230 people dead and over 100 injured, with many still fighting for their lives.
Shocked survivors, mostly science students in Santa Maria, described how scores of revellers were trampled to death or succumbed to smoke inhalation as blocked exits and rising flames caused panic.
Officials said 233 people had been killed, with 116 more injured. Health Minister Alexandre Padilha told reporters the government’s priority was “saving the lives that we still can save”.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, visibly shaken by the news, cut short her visit to a Europe-Latin America summit in Chile to fly to the town.
Brazil cancelled an event on Monday launching a 500-day countdown to next year’s World Cup tournament, and the disaster will raise concerns about public safety as Brazil also prepares to host the 2016 Olympic Games.
Rio Grande do Sul governor Tarso Genro, who referred to the tragedy as “a sad Sunday”, ordered a “broad investigation” of the causes of the fire to find out who was responsible.
