Sad news to report. Early this morning a fire tore through a nightclub in Santa Maria, a city the southern tip of Brazil near the borders with Argentina and Uruguay, killing at least 90 people and injuring more than 200. According to the Associated Press, the blaze began around 2 am while a band was performing at the Kiss Club. Local newspaper Diario de Santa Maria quoted security guard Rodrigo Moura as saying the club was at maximum capacity and was extremely crowded. According to CNN, there was a pyrotechnics show going on inside the club when the fire started. In 2003 pyrotechnics during Great White’s show in Rhode Island started a fire that killed 90 people. According to the Miami Herald, Tarso Genro, the governor of the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, tweeted “Sad Sunday.” He said all possible action was being taken and that he would be in the city later in the day.
Jan. 28 update: Officials say the death toll now at 233.