CNN: At least 245 killed in Santa Maria, Brazil nightclub fire

[HogNose]

So tragic. It's time to ban pyrotechnics in night clubs.

Sao Paulo, Brazil (CNN) -- A fire swept through a popular nightclub in southern Brazil on Sunday, killing at least 245 people, state media reported, citing police.

The death toll was expected to climb as firefighters continued to pull bodies from the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, said Col. Adilomar Silva, the regional coordinator of civil defense.
Most of those killed appeared to have died of smoke inhalation, Silva said. Hundreds are believed to have been injured, though an exact count was not immediately available.

Many people were trampled in the panic to leave the club, one security guard told CNN affiliate Band News.
Families and friends searching for information were outside a nearby sporting complex, where bodies were taken for identification, the state-run Agencia Brasil reported.
Police described it as the worst tragedy ever to affect Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state, Band News said.
The fire started at about 2 a.m. after the acoustic insulation in the Kiss nightclub caught fire, Silva said.
There was a pyrotechnics show going on inside the club when the fire started. Authorities stopped short of blaming it for the blaze, saying the cause was still under investigation.
The incident called to mind a 2003 nightclub fire in Rhode Island where pyrotechnics used by the heavy metal band Great White ignited a blaze that killed more than 90 people.

Pyrotechnics were also involved in a 2004 night club fire in Argentina that killed 194 people and a 2009 explosion at a night club in Russia that left more than 100 dead.
The Kiss nightclub is popular with young people in Santa Maria, drawing between 2,000 and 3,000 people a night on the weekends.

The blaze broke out during a weekend when students were celebrating the end of summer. Students at many Brazilian universities return to school on Monday.
Santa Maria is home to the Federal University of Santa Maria as well as a number of other private universities and colleges.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who has been in Chile for a regional summit, was expected to come to Rio Grande do Sul, the state government said in a statement.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/27/world/...html?hpt=hp_t1

[mboyd784]

Sickening. Ever since the Great White/Rhode island fire a few years ago I check the emergency exits religiously when I go to a club.

[SKINS@THEGOALLINE]

Sickening. Ever since the Great White/Rhode island fire a few years ago I check the emergency exits religiously when I go to a club.

MSNBC reported that the club had only one working emergency exit.

[sportjunkie07]

Sickening. Ever since the Great White/Rhode island fire a few years ago I check the emergency exits religiously when I go to a club.

I was out the other day and was thinking the same way. The videos from the great white fire were absolutely disturbing, I never want to be a part of that.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Those poor young people.

Tragedy that should NEVER of happened. Will we NEVER learn?

Shockingly sad start to the week. God rest them all.

Hail.

[skinswillwin06]

Not sure the accuracy of this, but I saw on Reddit that security wasn't letting people out until they paid their bills. Sickening.

[RansomthePasserby]

Not sure the accuracy of this, but I saw on Reddit that security wasn't letting people out until they paid their bills. Sickening.

I doubt it. In these panic situations, if security tried that, they would have been pushed out of the way or trampled. Unless they locked the doors and didn't let anyone out.

[Special K]

Oh my goodness, the more I read about this tragedy the more in shock I am at the complete disregard for the safety of human beings this club ownership and staff displayed: they packed 2000 people into that nightclub when the maximum capacity is 1000, there were no visible exit signs over the exit doors, they allowed pyrotechnics in a club packed 2x the maxium capacity, and security initially did not allow people to exit. I don't think they could have done a worse job in ensuring patron safety than this. Unbelievable.

I doubt it. In these panic situations, if security tried that, they would have been pushed out of the way or trampled. Unless they locked the doors and didn't let anyone out.

According to CNN, it's true. Security initially thought it was a big fight and barred people from running out of the club until they paid their bill. By the time they realized what was actually happened, they had successfully enhanced trampling conditions.

[RansomthePasserby]

Oh my goodness, the more I read about this tragedy the more in shock I am at the complete disregard for the safety of human beings this club ownership and staff displayed: they packed 2000 people into that nightclub when the maximum capacity is 1000, there were no visible exit signs over the exit doors, they allowed pyrotechnics in a club packed 2x the maxium capacity, and security initially did not allow people to exit. I don't think they could have done a worse job in ensuring patron safety than this. Unbelievable.


According to CNN, it's true. Security initially thought it was a big fight and barred people from running out of the club until they paid their bill. By the time they realized what was actually happened, they had successfully enhanced trampling conditions.

Wow, so they didn't have fire alarms, sprinklers, anything that would let security know there was fire in the building? Judging by your description of the situation, someone needs to go to jail.

[Bubble Screen]

Wow, so they didn't have fire alarms, sprinklers, anything that would let security know there was fire in the building? Judging by your description of the situation, someone needs to go to jail.

Different country, I know, but you would think these clubs would have learned from the fire in RI a few years back. Pyrotechnics should have been banned in all clubs, accross the globe, after that incident.

Edit: nevermind. I see that the 100 or so people killed in RI in 2003 isn't anywhere close to the record number of people killed in clubs, because of pyrotechnics.

[sideshow24]

It is time to ban night clubs altogether.

[mikered30]

They still do fireworks indoors?

[edgun88]

This is horrible. I can't even imagine....definitely brought my mood down considerably this morning...

It is time to ban night clubs altogether.

You trolling or you serious?

[Special K]

Wow, so they didn't have fire alarms, sprinklers, anything that would let security know there was fire in the building? Judging by your description of the situation, someone needs to go to jail.

I have not read any reports regarding fire alarms, sprinklers, etc., so I don't know. Just seems like a lot of confusion, which isn't surprising. I'm just wondering why security tried to keep people in there even IF there was a big brawl and not a fire? Common sense would seem to dictate allowing a relief of pressure of people in a 2x max capacity crowd so that people weren't injured in a fight...particularly if people started pulling out weapons in a fight What do I know, though?

I have no idea what the safety laws are in that country, but hopefully this club's ownership gets the book thrown at them because as described, all safety precautions ignored are sickening. Hopefully nightclubs everywhere start following common sense safety standards...

[sideshow24]

This is horrible. I can't even imagine....definitely brought my mood down considerably this morning...






You trolling or you serious?

Serious. Sort of. I do wish it was a clause in all of our players' contracts.