Brazil closes 100s of unsafe social venues

Brazilian authorities have closed over 150 unsafe social venues after 236 people died in a nightclub in the southern city of Santa Maria.

On Friday, the lower house of parliament announced plans to set minimum safety standards for nightclubs, restaurants and bars across the country.

Local governments have temporarily shutdown establishments in the capital Brasilia as well as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, the country’s two biggest cities in the southwest.

The death toll from the fire, which occurred in Santa Maria’s Kiss nightclub on Sunday, has risen to 236 with the latest victim being a 20 year-old-man who died in hospital on Friday.

Authorities in Rio de Janeiro found 199 venues with irregularities and closed 127 of them. Police gave club owners 30 days to meet safety standards.

Sixteen nightclubs in Brasilia have also been closed over invalid licenses.

Other Latin American countries, including Venezuela, Nicaragua and Mexico, have followed Brazil’s example, carrying out safety checks on their nightclubs.

Brazil intends to strengthen safety regulations in time for next year’s World Cup that is to be hosted in 12 Brazilian cities.