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232 Die in Smoke & Stampede From Massive Fire That Raged Through Crowded Brazil Nightclub

Jan. 27, 2013 7:39am Madeleine Morgenstern

Firefighters work to douse a fire at the Kiss Club in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. Authorities said 232 people were killed in the smoke and stampede as the fire swept through the crowded nightclub while a band was performing. (AP)

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — A blaze raced through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early Sunday, killing 232 people as the air filled with deadly smoke and panicked party-goers stampeded toward the exits, police and witnesses said. It appeared to be the world’s deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade.

Witnesses said that a flare or firework lit by band members may have started the fire.

Police Maj. Cleberson Braida Bastianello said by telephone that officials counted 232 bodies that had been brought for identification to a gymnasium in the city of Santa Maria, at the southern tip of Brazil near the borders with Argentina and Uruguay.

Another 117 people were being treated at hospitals, he said, and President Dilma Roussef arrived to visit victims after cutting short participation at a Latin American-European summit in Chile.

Bastianello said the recount lowered the toll from 245 earlier believed killed.

Television images showed smoke pouring out of the Kiss 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.

Silva added that firefighters and ambulances responded quickly after the fire broke out, but that it spread too fast inside the packed club for them to help.

A man carries an injured victim of a fire at the Kiss club in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, early Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. (AP)

Michele Pereira, another survivor, told the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper that she was near the stage and that the fire broke out after members of the band 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.

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Most of the dead apparently suffocated, according to Dr. Paulo Afonso Beltrame, a professor at the medical school of the Federal University of Santa Maria who raced the city’s Caridade Hospital to help victims.

He said survivors, police and firefighters told him a flare set off by a band member set the ceiling’s soundproofing ablaze. “Large amounts of toxic smoke quickly filled the room and I would say that at least 90 percent of the victims died of asphyxiation,” Beltrame told The Associated Press by telephone.

“The toxic smoke made people lose their sense of direction so they were unable to find their way to the exit. At least 50 bodies were found inside a bathroom. Apparently they confused the bathroom door with the exit door.”

“In the hospital I saw desperate friends and relatives walking and running down the corridors looking for information. It was one of the saddest scenes I have ever witnessed,” he added.

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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.

Beltrame also said he was told the club was filled far past its capacity during a party for students at the university’s department of agronomy. The event featured a group called Gurizada Fandangueira, which plays a driving mixture of local Brazilian country music styles. It was not immediately clear if the band members were among the victims.

Getty Images

Santa Maria Mayor Cezar Schirmer decreed a 30-day mourning period due to the nightclub disaster and Tarso Genro, the governor of the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, said that all possible action was being taken.

Santa Maria is a major university city with a population of around a quarter of a million.

A welding accident reportedly set off a Dec. 25, 2000, fire at a club in Luoyang, China, killing 309.

At least 194 people died at an overcrowded working-class nightclub in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2004. Seven members the band were sentenced to prison for setting off the blaze with pyrotechnics.

A blaze at the Lame Horse nightclub in Perm, Russia, broke out on Dec. 5, 2009, when an indoor fireworks display ignited a plastic ceiling decorated with branches, killing 152

A nightclub fire in the U.S. state of Rhode Island in 2003 killed 100 people after pyrotechnics used as a stage prop by the 1980s rock band Great White set ablaze cheap soundproofing foam on the walls and ceiling.

This post has been updated.

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Comments (49)

ckiley
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 5:15pm
I may sound like a spoil sport, but I have never thought it was a good idea to have pyro technics in an enclosed space during a concert. Even with people that supposedly know what they are doing. It only takes one misplaced spark. Seriously, they should ban this sort of thing in this country. Nothing we can do about other countries but hope this horrible tragedy sets the stage for different codes.

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- redfish52
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 6:30pm
  I was working in Rhode Island when the club went up in flames. I was a Superintendent building the Amgen Pharma Plant and I can say that this was a horrible situation. I drove by the club every day getting to work. The building basically burned to the ground in less than 15 minutes…..I had co-workers that lost family. I can think of a death no worse that running into a restroom with 10 other people thinking that you could escape from raising the window only to find out it was screwed shut…damned hard way to go…
  
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- redfish52
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 6:58pm
  I know I sound like a geek’s geek but I have always had a fear of being in places where a lot of people congregate. I’ve only been to a couple concerts and I’m 52 years old. But one thing I have always done is figure out two ways to get out if I had to….You may miss a little music but gain piece of mind..
  
  Report this comment
- SimpleTruths
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 2:56pm
  At least they died free of intrusive government fire inspectors, building codes, and job-killing safety regulations on businesses in a climate of unrestrained capitalism.
  
  If they lived in America, they’d still be alive, but they would be suffering under the terrible tyranny of Big Government.
  
  Report this comment
icarenough
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 4:12pm
Close all nightclubs worldwide…ban all flares and fireworks…they just might kill someone. May the victims rest in peace.

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The-Monk
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 4:05pm
Good thing no one had an assault rifle….

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- FieldJudge
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 6:17pm
  This is yet another of a list night club tragedies resulting in multiple deaths and injuries, which yes, are avoidable. But people are involved and stupidity happens. Right now the families of all these people, young and old need our prayers, compassion and support. This is NOT the time to respond in any other way! Show decency my fellow Americans regardless of your religion, beliefs, political leanings or cultural opinions. My God, some of the comments here are disgraceful, an embarrassment, uncalled for and shameful.
  AND… No one can know who the creeps posting here are or their sick motives so don’t conclude they are people who’s opinions we commenting here at TheBlaze associate with or condone…
  
  That said, over 1100 people simply having fun “out on the town” have died in the larger night club fires over the past decades including the multiples more injured, many scarred and disfigured for life by irresponsible, and the criminal actions of others. Here’s the Station Fire with others mentioned. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Station_nightclub_fire
  
  Thanks for listening…
  
  Report this comment
pooterskooter
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 3:39pm
Hey OBUMMER…..I think you and your fellow Marxist Buddies should be banning NIGHT CLUBS instead of our guns. I know, I know,…It’s easier to say it’s all George Bush’s fault because YOU can’t handle criticism. It seems Democrat politician’s Ass is where their Head is suppose to be, but that’s perpetual with them. It never was any other place but there.

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dontbotherme
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 3:27pm
Oh, how horrible! Those poor people! God bless all of the families & friends of those injured or killed. May his mercy comfort them. My heart goes out to those who tried to help. I can’t imagine the nightmares they will have.

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djmaine
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 2:56pm
They should ban fire in Brazil

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powedj
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 2:41pm
It’s George Bush’s fault. Ban all fire and confiscate all fire immediatly.

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pavepaws
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 2:30pm
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire 1911. Sometimes disasters give reforms.

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Tom Dooley
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 2:23pm
Hey grimmster I wish you were standing here in front of me instead of sitting in mommies basement in your underwear, so i could slap the crap out of you. Any one on this site that has no empathy for these victims is either evil or has never seen a real fire.

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flatbroke
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 2:21pm
When i was younger, me and my friends would go to night clubs to have fun, this could have happened to anyone of us. Obama should ban fire. it hurts/kills so many people.

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flatbroke
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 2:17pm
Such a sad and tragic loss of life, my condolenses. maybe Obama will ban fire.

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msjoe43
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 2:15pm
Violated the maximum occupancy (Fire Code Safety if there is one in Brazil.) . . . . the fault lies with the club own.

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Tom Dooley
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 1:10pm
What the hell is the matter with the commenters on the blaze.please stop these snarky comments. I don’t believe any of you are conservatives,you act like children and do not take even a terrible tragedy like this seriously.We already know you have no brains but try to grow a heart.

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- yazoo
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 1:30pm
  (screaming) What difference does it matter!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
- yazoo
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 1:31pm
  What Difference Does It Matter!!!
  
  Report this comment
drrgb
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 12:15pm
Democrats are already moving to ban night clubs. Guess not, that only applies to guns.

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Tom70
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 11:49am
shades of the copa cabanna in the US

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- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 2:34pm
  Beverly Hills Supper Club, Ft. Thomas/Southgate, KY, May 28th, 1977.
  
  Report this comment
PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 11:45am
A word to the wise…avoid venues where large hedonistic groups gather to glorify ungodly idols with no way out.

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 1:28pm
  Could have happened to the DEMOCRAT Taxpayers at the DNC convention, but there were few ACTUAL Taxpayers there.
  
  Report this comment
NOBALONEY
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 10:28am
Still going to Olypics in Brazil 2016?

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- turkey13
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 10:43am
  President Obama and Feinstein will be contacting the UN tomorrow to get laws passed for total capacity in night clubs. This is 10 times the choldren that died at Sandy Pont and you saw how the media got involved in that. As of now 245 parents won’t be seeing their kids when the family next meets. These large clubs should be limited to about 500 kids and small clubs 50 kids. The laws should state the club has to have a guard at the back door to open it for a emergency. Every club fire I have read about has the back door chained making a bottle neck at the front dootr.
  
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- SimpleTruths
  Posted on January 28, 2013 at 2:58pm
  Still learning to spell?
  
  Report this comment
DREDGE
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 10:01am
And . . if you were’nt there you would be alive today!!!! Hope they had a good time!!!!

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G-WHIZ
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 9:57am
As the fire raged-on and the stampeed killed most….they were thinking…”I thought it was part of the “act”!!”.

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yougottabekidding
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 9:45am
from the pictures it doesn’t look like the street would accommodate that many people!

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yiddishlion
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 9:43am
I demand legislation and tougher laws on nightclubs now!!!!!!!! When will it be enough??!! Clearly these nightclubs are worse than assault weapons!!!

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- YOURSENSEI
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 1:25pm
  This is what you must know:
  
  Don’t be such a silly. Everybody knows nightclubs aren’t designed – don’t exist – to kill.
  
  It is so.
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 9:00am
.
A burning Night Club is a good place to pick up Hot Chick’s……..

I know, I know…..

Bad Monkey Bad!!!!!

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- jmjone
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 11:25am
  People who post comments like this are worthless pieces of trash.
  That you can’t even control your sick humor at a time that hundreds of men and women have died a terrible death makes me wish for a long and painful death by cancer for you.
  
  Here’s hoping my wish comes true.
  
  Report this comment
- SpankDaMonkey
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 11:47am
  .
  You just condemned yourself. Thanks for saving me the trouble….
  
  Report this comment
- iwitnis
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 12:25pm
  bad monkey! but ironically funny. hot chicks is prolly what made some one toss a molotov. smells an attack, because why else couldnt a thousand people put out a little fire? the article says 245 died many more injured….all those People were UnAble to extiguish a Fire??? REALLY?
  
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- grimmster
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 1:37pm
  @jmjone aka encinom.
  Personally, i would sit and watch you eviserate yourself ala hari kari,just to watch the look on your pathetic pos face as you realize your own slow death……idiot.
  
  Report this comment
DougHuffman
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 8:00am
‘Mornin’, I’ve been watching old Poirot movies. Clearly there was ONE intended victim in this fire, all the rest are mere distractions. But WITH has this to do with anything? MOLON LABE Fly Lord

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woodyee
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 7:49am
Enough of this already!

Can we ban fire already, and end the senseless killing?!?

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- 48Straights
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 8:08am
  I am so sick and tired of the statement “even if it only saves one life”. Fire like with guns saves hundreds of lives everyday, I would bet firearms SAVE more lives everyday than they take.
  
  So yes the uninformed zombie liberal will follow the progressive endless slogans but if your goal is which is going to save more lives you have to go with gun ownership and unregulated fire.
  
  Report this comment
- G-WHIZ
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 9:41am
  Many types of “fire” inside a glass-globe lights your way and homes(etc). Fire inna your stove and furness heats your abbode and cooks your food. Fire inside aluminum or steel chambers propells your vehicles…..FIRE INSIDE BRASS-TUBES … PROTECTS YOUR LIBERTY AND FREEDOM!!
  
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- Ishmot2
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 11:14am
  False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from men because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no remedy for evils, except destruction.The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such nature.They disarm those only who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. The Second Amendment Primer
  
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- Ishmot2
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 11:20am
  WOODYEEm I know that you are kidding, but they have banned fire for the Boy Scouts camping trips, and because of this people will be less informed about the dangers of fire and there will be more fire deaths and injuries in the future. IDIOTS!
  
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piper60
Posted on January 27, 2013 at 7:44am
Something tells me, that there may be some upgrades to the fire code they have down there. Not being familiar with the town, I wonder if they even have one. So sad.

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- DougHuffman
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 9:42am
  Third World shiite-pot urban renewal in progress. Refiner’s Fire burns clean.
  
  Report this comment
- YOURSENSEI
  Posted on January 27, 2013 at 4:39pm
  Mr or Ms DOUGHUFFMAN,
  
  This is what you must know:
  
  You’re being a little harsh on Wisconsin.
  
  It is so.
  
  Report this comment

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