Jefferson Bernardes/AFP, via Getty,JEFFERSON BERNARDES
New details have emerged about the deadly fire that swept through a Brazilian nightclub. Guards reportedly first tried to prevent people from leaving, but the death toll was also increased because there was only one door through which clubgoers could exit. Once firefighters arrived, they were unable to enter due to “a barrier of bodies blocking the entrance.” They later tried to cut their way in through the walls, but most of those who died suffocated within minutes after the fire started. Many of the victims were younger than 20, and the Federal University of Santa Maria confirmed that 101 of its students were killed in the blaze. Officials believe that the fire started when band members held up a flare and ignited soundproofing in the ceiling. Police have now arrested three people in connection with the fire, including the nightclub's owner, a vocalist in the band, and a person in charge of stage safety.