Fire in Brazilian night club leaves 180 people dead, 200 injured

A fire swept through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early today Sunday January 27th, killing at least 180 people and leaving hundreds injured, police and firefighters told local media.

Fire broke out at popular night club, Kiss Club, in the city of Santa Maria, while a band was performing. There were over a 1000 people at the club when fire started at around 2 a.m. A stampede ensued immediately as party goers pushed and shoved each other to escape.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, officials said. A police spokesman told a radio station that a truck carrying 70 bodies arrived at the Municipal Sports Center, which they used as an improvised morgue.

"Sad Sunday", the governor of the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul tweeted. He said all possible action was being taken and that he would be in the city later in the day.