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Brazil nightclub fire 'kills more than 200' Brazil nightclub fire 'kills more than 200'
(35 minutes later)
A nightclub fire in southern Brazil has probably left more than 200 people dead, a senior police official said on Sunday. A nightclub fire in southern Brazil has probably left more than 200 people dead, according to a senior police official.
Major Gerson da Rosa Ferreira, overseeing rescue efforts at the scene for the military police, told reporters that 159 bodies had already been identified and removed from the nightclub in the southern city of Santa Maria. Major Gerson da Rosa Ferreira, overseeing military police rescue efforts at the scene, told reporters 159 bodies had been identified and removed from the venue in the city of Santa Maria.
He said the victims had suffocated or been trampled, and that the death toll was likely to be above 200 people. Victims had suffocated or been trampled, he said, adding that the death toll was likely to exceed 200 people.
The incident occurred in the city of Santa Maria 187 miles west of the state capital of Porto Alegre. Estado de S Paulo newspaper reported on its website that as many as 2,000 people were in the nightclub when the fire broke out. The incident occurred 187 miles west of the state capital of Porto Alegre. Estado de S Paulo newspaper reported on its website that as many as 2,000 people were in the nightclub when the fire broke out.
Luiza Sousa, a civil police official in Santa Maria, told Reuters the blaze started when a member of the band or its production team ignited a flare, which then set fire to the ceiling. The fire spread "in seconds", Sousa said. Luiza Sousa, a civil police official in Santa Maria, said the blaze started when a member of the band or its production team ignited a flare, which then set fire to the ceiling. The blaze spread "in seconds", he said.
The Rio Grande do Sul state health secretary, Ciro Simoni, said respirators from all over the state were being sent to the scene. The Rio Grande do Sul state health secretary, Ciro Simoni, said respirators from across the state were being sent to the scene.
"A sad Sunday!" tweeted Rio Grande do Sul's governor, Tarso Genro. He said "all possible measures" were being taken in response and that he was on his way to the scene."A sad Sunday!" tweeted Rio Grande do Sul's governor, Tarso Genro. He said "all possible measures" were being taken in response and that he was on his way to the scene.
Domingo triste! Estamos tomando as medidas cabíveis e possíveis. Estarei em Santa Maria no final da manhã.
— Tarso Genro (@tarsogenro) January 27, 2013