The Buckingham

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A fire in a crowded nightclub in Brazil has killed more than 230 people.

Brazil’s president, Dilma Rousseff, cut short his visit to Chile to go to the scene of the incident in the university town of Santa Maria in Rio Grande do Sul.

Police and firefighters said the fire broke out on early Jan. 27th morning when a band member ignited a flare, which set fire to the ceiling.  The blaze spread in seconds, which caused widespread panic as people struggled to find the exits.

A total of 234 people have died and 48 people are currently being treated in local hospitals.

Authorities say that 500 people were in the Boate Kiss nightclub when the fire broke out.