A fire swept through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early today
Sunday January 27th, killing at least 245 people (and still counting) and leaving hundreds injured, police
and firefighters told local media.
Fire broke out at popular night club, Kiss Club, in the city of Santa
Maria, while a band
was performing. There were over a 1000 people at the club when fire
started at around 2 a.m. A stampede ensued immediately as party goers
pushed and shoved each other to escape.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, officials said. A police spokesman told a radio station that
a truck carrying 70 bodies arrived
at the Municipal Sports Center, which they used as an improvised
morgue.
"Sad Sunday", the governor of the southern state
of Rio Grande do Sul tweeted. He said all possible action was being taken and
that he would be in the city later in the day.