14℃

Cloudy

Victoria

5-Day Forecast

  • Tonight
    Cloudy

    13℃ / -℃

    Chance of showers

  • Thursday
    Cloudy

    12℃ / 16℃

    Periods of rain

  • Friday
    Cloudy

    - / 18℃

    Cloudy

  • Saturday
    Cloudy

    11℃ / 18℃

    Cloudy

  • Sunday
    Cloudy

    12℃ / 18℃

    Chance of showers

Close

Arrest made in Brazil fire that killed 233, first funerals being held for victims

The Associated Press / Times Colonist
January 28, 2013

Injured people lies on the ground outside the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. A blaze raced through the crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early Sunday, killing more than 200 people as the air filled with deadly smoke and panicked party-goers stampeded toward the exits, police and witnesses said. It appeared to be the world's deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade.(AP Photo/Roger Shlossmacker)

SANTA MARIA, Brazil - Brazilian police say they've made three arrests and are seeking a fourth person in connection with a nightclub fire that killed more than 230 people.

Inspector Ranolfo Vieira Junior said at a Monday press conference that the arrests are for investigative purposes. He says the detentions have five-day limits.

He declined to identify those arrested or the fourth person sought.

More than 230 people died early Sunday during the fire at a university party in southern Brazil. Police have said they think a band's pyrotechnics show ignited sound insulation on the ceiling, causing the blaze.

The Zero Hora newspaper quotes lawyer Jader Marques as saying his client Elissandro Spohr, a co-owner of the club, was arrested. The paper also says two band members were arrested.

Funerals began Monday in the city of Santa Maria, Brazil, where the blaze took place.

© Copyright 2013

Email to a Friend

Close

Don't Miss

Times Colonist Opinion

Event Listings

Popular World