Brazil holds special services for 237 nightclub fire victims
Mauro Hoffman, co-owner of the Kiss nightclub where a blaze on Sunday early morning left a death toll of over 230, is taken into custody by police in Santa Maria, southern Brazil, on January 28, 2013.
Brazil is holding special services for the 237 victims of the fire at Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria.
Over 4,000 people attended services in the town Sunday night, and held a silent vigil outside the club itself, BBC News reported. People dressed in white and placed photos of the victims at the site.
Additional services were held in various cities across Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state in Brazil and where Santa Maria is located, according to BBC.
A ceremony was also held at the base of the Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro, RTHK English News reported.
The fire broke out at Kiss nightclub last week after a performing band set off flares, which sparked a fire that spread quickly along the ceiling's soundproofing foam, according to the Associated Press.
Kiss also failed to meet several fire safety regulations, including having basic firefighting equipment on hand and providing multiple exits.
The nightclub's owners and two band members have been detained in connection to the tragic fire, the AP reported.
Brazilian authorities ordered safety inspections of the city's restaurants, bars and clubs after the incident, which have led to over 150 temporary closures, according to BBC News.
The country's congress is slated to strengthen safety legislation ahead of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
More from GlobalPost: Brazil nightclub fire raises safety concerns
Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you. We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
Make a gift today, and you’ll help us unlock a matching gift of $67,000!