BRAZIL: Thousands mourn the victims of Brazil's deadly nightclub fire with procession through the streets of Santa Maria

Record ID: 774218

  • Title: BRAZIL: Thousands mourn the victims of Brazil's deadly nightclub fire with procession through the streets of Santa Maria
  • Date: 29th January 2013
  • Summary: SANTA MARIA, BRAZIL (JANUARY 28, 2013) (REUTERS) THOUSANDS WALKING THROUGH SANTA MARIA IN VIGIL FOR THOSE KILLED AT KISS NIGHTCLUB FIRE WOMAN HOLDING UP BANNER READING: "THEY WERE YOUTHS, LIKE US"
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVA7N7VRNKEXNUT7RLZ33MX8FQS3
  • Story Text: Thousands mourned the victims of Brazil's deadly nightclub fire on Monday (January 28) night by marching through Santa Maria, the city in southern Brazil where the fire took place.
    Many of the mourners dressed in white and carried photographs of those who lost their lives in deadly fire during the procession. Many struggled to hold back their tears.

    "I believe that it's not just me but everyone in this world who has a heart has been affected (by the fire), anyone who has family, who has a friend. We are all moved, and not just us, I have nothing else to say," said Jose Luiz Fagundes, a resident of Santa Maria.
    Local resident Marcia Ferreira lost 25 friends in the blaze and said attended the Kiss nightclub regularly.

    "I don't have words to describe this, they were 25 of my friends," she said, struggling to hold back her tears.
    Mourners also released white balloons into the night sky during the vigil and held a moment of silence for the 231 victims of the fire.
    Some mourners demanded answers about the safety measures at nightclub, where hundreds were trapped after the ceiling became engulfed in flames. The chanted "Justice" as they marched in the procession.
    Brazilian police investigating the nightclub fire that killed 231 people detained on Monday the owners of the club and two band members whose pyrotechnics show authorities say triggered the blaze.
    No charges were filed against the four men, but prosecutors said they could be held for up to five days as police press them for clues as to how the fire early Sunday morning could have caused so many deaths.
    The tragedy comes as Brazil prepares to host the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament and 2016 Olympics, putting its safety standards and emergency response capabilities in the international spotlight.
    Most of the dead were suffocated by toxic fumes that rapidly filled the Kiss nightclub after the band set off a flare at about 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, authorities said.
    The club's operating license was under review for renewal after expiring last year. Witnesses said bouncers initially blocked the only functioning exit because they believed fleeing customers were trying to skip out on their bar tabs.
    The death toll was revised down to 231 from 233 as officials said some names had been counted twice. By Monday night, 129 people were still hospitalized, 76 of them in serious condition, according to state health services.
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