Brazil nightclub fire: Video emerges, 3 people arrested (Video)

Top news coming in to a chilly San Francisco today is about the Brazil nightclub fire.

Kiss nightclub, in Santa Maria, in Brazil is where it all happened.

In that fire, at least 245 people have been killed. Most of the young people died -- around 90 percent, according to some reports--because they were looking for exits at the bathrooms, only to find that there were none, reports CNN.

Three people have been arrested and a fourth person is being looked for at the time of this writing, says CNN.

Fire Brigade Sergeant Robson Muller told Reuters that the situation quickly became a disaster area:

"Smoke filled the place instantly, the heat became unbearable."

It was due to the smoke and heat that the teenagers could not get out of the burning nightclub.

Survivor Murilo Tiescher, a medical student, told GloboNews TV.

"People could not find the only exit. They went to the toilet thinking it was the exit and many died there."

Now a video has emerged showing a scene from the night club fire that happened at the Kiss club in Santa Maria. Firefighters and rescue teams can be seen trying to douse the flames and pull people to safety. The scene around them is total chaos.

Many died due to smoke inhalation, while several died due to being crushed in the stampede that ensued.

Says another survivor:

"People started running. I fell on the floor."

It's possible that the fire started when a member of the band shot off a flare as part of the pyrotechnic show and the ceiling was accidentally set ablaze. That band member could be facing a charge of manslaughter.

San Francisco resident, Katie Adler says, "It's unbelievable that any kind of firework should be set off in an enclosed space. What were they thinking?"

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, made a heartfelt statement about the Kiss club tragedy:

"We are trying to mobilize all possible resources to help in the rescue efforts. All I can say at the moment is that my feelings are of deep sorrow.

"The Brazilian people are the ones who need me today. I want to tell the people of Santa Maria in this time of sadness that we are all together," added President Rousseff.

According to Reuters, the owners of the Kiss nightclub will be investigated to determine if they were negligent.

Surprisingly, some say the tragedy at the Kiss club could have been worse. The college town normally has around 3,000 people visiting the Kiss nightclub on the weekend.

According to news reports in San Francisco, some survivors told investigators that security guards at one point tried to block people from leaving the Brazilian nightclub through the only exit available, because they wanted everyone to pay their bills. They had thought people were leaving to avoid paying their tabs, says ABC 7 News.

You can see the Brazil night club fire here in this article.

Follow Sheila on Twitter (@Sheilamba)

Subscribe to Sheila's articles for updates in your inbox as they are written. Your email will never be shared.

See the video for more on this story.

Be sure to check out Sheila's other column, here, on travel

Advertisement

, SF Top News Examiner

Sheila O'Connor is a freelance travel and news writer who lives in San Francisco. When not traveling the globe and discovering all things new or ancient, Sheila is at home with her one child (2 are in college) and one cat. Sheila is originally from Scotland and has the accent to prove it.

Today's top buzz...