Brazil Club Fire Kills Hundreds

Its being called the deadliest nightclub fire in a decade.

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Deadliest in a Decade - On Saturday, Jan. 26, a deadly fire ripped through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil, killing more than 230 people. As thick smoke filled the air, clubgoers stampeded toward the venue's one exit, blocked by those who had already succumbed or been trampled. In the wake of the tragedy, BET.com looks at what is being hailed as the deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade. — Naeesa Aziz (Photo: AP Photo/Agencia RBS)

Up in Smoke - Authorities say the blaze started around 2:30 a.m. when the pyrotechnic display of a band performing at the club set fire to the accoustic foam insulation in the ceiling. State fire officials say around 2,000 people were inside when the fire began — double the maximum capacity of 1,000. (Photo: AP Photo/Roger Shlossmacker)

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Up in Smoke - Authorities say the blaze started around 2:30 a.m. when the pyrotechnic display of a band performing at the club set fire to the accoustic foam insulation in the ceiling. State fire officials say around 2,000 people were inside when the fire began — double the maximum capacity of 1,000. (Photo: AP Photo/Roger Shlossmacker)

College Town Mourns - The Kiss nightclub, where the fire took place, is in Santa Maria, Brazil, where a number of colleges and universities are also located. Of the dead, 101 were students at the Federal University of Santa Maria and many were younger than 20 years old.  (Photo: AP)

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College Town Mourns - The Kiss nightclub, where the fire took place, is in Santa Maria, Brazil, where a number of colleges and universities are also located. Of the dead, 101 were students at the Federal University of Santa Maria and many were younger than 20 years old.  (Photo: AP)

"War Zone" - Many clubgoers became trapped when parts of the roof began to collapse. Firefighters say they found piles of bodies in the two bathrooms, where clubgoers apparently were fooled by the the blinding smoke into thinking the doors led to exits.State lawmaker Valderci Oliveira described the burned-out club as "like a war zone." (Photo: AP Photo/Agencia RBS)

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"War Zone" - Many clubgoers became trapped when parts of the roof began to collapse. Firefighters say they found piles of bodies in the two bathrooms, where clubgoers apparently were fooled by the the blinding smoke into thinking the doors led to exits.State lawmaker Valderci Oliveira described the burned-out club as "like a war zone." (Photo: AP Photo/Agencia RBS)

"We Thought It Was a Fight" - Security guards say, initially, they blocked people from leaving the club because they thought a fight had broken out and didn't want patrons to leave without settling their tabs.(Photo: AP Photo/Roger Shlossmacker)

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"We Thought It Was a Fight" - Security guards say, initially, they blocked people from leaving the club because they thought a fight had broken out and didn't want patrons to leave without settling their tabs.(Photo: AP Photo/Roger Shlossmacker)

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Critical Condition - One day after the diaster, 120 people remained hospitalized, 79 in critical condition, authorities said. (Photo: AP Photo/Agencia RBS)

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Critical Condition - One day after the diaster, 120 people remained hospitalized, 79 in critical condition, authorities said. (Photo: AP Photo/Agencia RBS)

Brazil, Mexico Question U.S. Over Espionage Reports - Brazil and Mexico have asked the U.S. to explain reports from a Brazilian television station, citing documents leaked by former N.S.A. contractor Edward Snowden that the N.S.A. spied on their countries’ presidents.(Photo: AP Photo/Brazil's Presidency)

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President Rousseff Rushes Back - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff cut short her trip to Chile for a regional summit to deal with the tragedy."The Brazilian people are the ones who need me today," she said. "I want to tell the people of Santa Maria in this time of sadness that we are all together."  (Photo: AP Photo/Brazil's Presidency)

Lean on Me - President Rousseff spent time Sunday comforting victims' relatives in Santa Maria. (Photo: AP Photo/Roberto Stuckert Filho/Brazil's Presidency)

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Lean on Me - President Rousseff spent time Sunday comforting victims' relatives in Santa Maria. (Photo: AP Photo/Roberto Stuckert Filho/Brazil's Presidency)

In Search of Justice - As of Monday, police had arrested four people — two club owners and two members of the band — in connection with the fire. The suspects will be held for an initial period of five days while authorities investigate. (Photo: AP Photo/Nabor Goulart)

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In Search of Justice - As of Monday, police had arrested four people — two club owners and two members of the band — in connection with the fire. The suspects will be held for an initial period of five days while authorities investigate. (Photo: AP Photo/Nabor Goulart)

Remains of the Day - Bodies were taken to a local gymnasium where family members came to identify loved ones.(Photo:  AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Remains of the Day - Bodies were taken to a local gymnasium where family members came to identify loved ones.(Photo:  AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Cooperation - The owners of Kiss nightclub issued a statement vowing to cooperate with the investigation. Although the owners maintain that the club was properly permitted and inspected by the fire marshal, the club's license expired last August. (Photo:  AP Photo/Nabor Goulart)

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Cooperation - The owners of Kiss nightclub issued a statement vowing to cooperate with the investigation. Although the owners maintain that the club was properly permitted and inspected by the fire marshal, the club's license expired last August. (Photo:  AP Photo/Nabor Goulart)

Procession - Relatives and friends solemnly carried away the coffins of loved ones. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Procession - Relatives and friends solemnly carried away the coffins of loved ones. (Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Three Days of Mourning - Monday marked the first of three days of mourning for the country. Mourners left flowers outside the club, and the flag outside the country's presidential palace flew at half-staff.(Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

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Three Days of Mourning - Monday marked the first of three days of mourning for the country. Mourners left flowers outside the club, and the flag outside the country's presidential palace flew at half-staff.(Photo: AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

Routine Performance - The band performing at the time of the fire, Gurizada Fandangueira, a popular and regular attraction at Kiss, is known for its pyrotechnic show."We used it all the time. ... We never had this problem before," the band's guitarist Rodrigo Martins told Brazilian Radio Gaucha. (Photo: AP Photo/Nabor Goulart)

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Routine Performance - The band performing at the time of the fire, Gurizada Fandangueira, a popular and regular attraction at Kiss, is known for its pyrotechnic show."We used it all the time. ... We never had this problem before," the band's guitarist Rodrigo Martins told Brazilian Radio Gaucha. (Photo: AP Photo/Nabor Goulart)

Funerals Underway - By midday Sunday, 40 of 110 funerals planned for the day had already been held at the city's municipal cemetery, according to CNN. (Photo: AP Photo/Ronald Mendes-Agencia RBS)

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Funerals Underway - By midday Sunday, 40 of 110 funerals planned for the day had already been held at the city's municipal cemetery, according to CNN. (Photo: AP Photo/Ronald Mendes-Agencia RBS)