“Sao Paulo, Brazil (CNN) — Panicked crowds pushed toward the exits as fire swept through a packed nightclub in southern Brazil early Sunday.Hundreds didn’t escape in time from the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria.The blaze killed at least 245 people, many of whom apparently died from smoke inhalation, police said. Others were trampled in the rush for the exits, one security guard told CNN affiliate Band News. Investigators said dozens were injured.”
“About 2,000 people were inside the club when the fire broke out — double the maximum capacity of 1,000, said Guido de Melo, a state fire official.Investigators have received preliminary information that security guards stopped people from exiting the club, he told Globo TV.”This overcrowding made it difficult for people to leave, and according to the information we have, the security guards kept people from leaving the building,” he said.”
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