233 Killed In Brazilian Nightclub Blaze

233 people are reported dead after a fire erupted at the Brazilian nightclub Kiss Sunday.

Police say the fire began when a band that was playing at the club set off pyrotechnics during its show, setting the building's ceiling on fire.

The crowd of close to 900 patrons then panicked and attempted to flee the burning building, many of whom were trapped or were trampled to death.

The bodies were taken to a nearby gymnasium for identification, police said, adding that more than 100 people were injured, most remaining hospitalized.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff cut short a visit to Chile to console relatives of the dead and injured in the disaster. She later declared a three-day mourning period for victims of the fire.