Three Arrested For Brazil Club Fire

Three people have been arrested following the tragic fire in Brazil which killed at least 233 people, many aged between 16-20.

Pyro effects from the stage appear to have sparked a fire in the venue which allegedly only had one working fire exit, where many died in a human crush or by smoke inhalation while desperately trying to find a way out.

Those who did find an exit may have been blocked by security who initially thought they were trying to skip on bar tabs.

Now one of the venue’s co-owners and the chief of security has been arrested, along with a member of the band Gurizada Fandangueira whose pyro effects may have started the blaze.

The venue was hosting a student party, which helps explain why so many of the dead were aged under 20. Almost 1,000 people attended the gig, which was reportedly far over its legal capacity. Attempts to fight the blaze were thwarted by faulty fire extinguishers.

In a desperate bid to help people escape, firefighters used sledgehammers to smash a hole in the external walls of the venue.

The tragedy is the world’s deadliest venue fire since 300 died in Luoyang, China, in 2000. A similar tragedy in 2003 saw 100 people die in Rhode Island when pyrotechnics at a Great White gig set the venue’s soundproofing on fire.