Brazil Nightclub Fire Kills At Least 245 People

Firefighters try to put out a fire at the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, Brazil

Photo by Germano Roratto/AFP/Getty Images

At least 245 people were killed, and at least 200 were injured, by a huge fire that quickly swept through a crowded nightclub in the southern Brazilian city of Santa Maria early Sunday morning, reports the Associated Press. It seems to be the deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade. The total number of
victims is still unclear and hundreds more could be injured. Although the cause of the fire at the Kiss club is still under investigation, it seems the blaze broke out at around 2:30 a.m. when a member of the live band that was playing at the time ignited a flare. The fire quickly spread after acoustic insulation caught fire, reports the BBC.

"It was really fast. There was a lot of smoke, really dark smoke," one survivor said. Witnesses described a harrowing scene of panic that with many victims reportedly dying from smoke inhalation as well as the crush of people. "People started panicking and ended up treading on each other,” a fire official said. Brazil’s safety standards are under international scrutiny as the country is getting ready to host the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament and the 2016 Summer Olympics, points out Reuters.