Investigators seek causes of Brazil nightclub fire

The fair share of the blame for the Brazilian night club blaze which has so far killed 235 people, is being passed from one to another, while the nation continues to mourns.

Only one emergency exit, fire extinguishers which didn't work, and insufficient emergency lighting are being assessed for their effects in the Kiss nightclub blaze in Santa Maria, Southern Brazil. The fire started after a band member threw an outdoor flare in an enclosed indoor space. Sound proofing foam in the ceiling produced thick acrid smoke. Many people who died, and others who are still critically ill in hospital inhaled large amounts of this causing asphyxia.

Now the Mayor of the City is claiming that safety inspectors last year went to the club and gave it a passing grade. He went on to say that if things needed to be done, then that's the responsibility of the Fire Department.

The Fire Department says the club had broken some rules, but it's overall safety licence was being considered and it was allowed to remain open until that process concluded.

These tepid excuses which created gaping holes in an already inefficient system, clearly illustrates the point that Brazil's President Dilma Rouseff succinctly made- namely, that the whole system needs to be radically overhauled.

Listen to James Blears report: