Brazilians protest on anniversary of deadly nightclub fire

Some 200 people protested the sluggish legal progress concerning the Jan. 27 nightclub fire that killed 242 people in the college town of Santa Maria last year. Families and friends of the victims demonstrated outside the local public prosecutor's office on the anniversary, calling for justice and pressuring authorities to speed up the legal process. Protesters hung 242 white balloons on the front gate of the office building and painted 242 body silhouettes in front of the abandoned "Kiss" nightclub. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff noted the anniversary of the tragedy on Twitter, saying "one year later, the sadness is still alive in our hearts." Police investigation had concluded that the musicians ignited the roof with their pyrotechnic devices, and the club's owners failed to install emergency exits and used flammable soundproofing foam, which releases lethal fumes after catching fire. Local fire department and town hall officials shared the blame for issuing the club's fire permit Two members of the Gurizada Fandangueira band and two co-owners of the club were briefly arrested last year, but now are free pending trial. The court has yet to decide whether the accused will be tried with a full jury or not. Now a year passed and nobody has been held accountable for the deadly blaze. Many survivors are still suffering severe burns and respiratory problems, and families of the victims are in need of psychological treatment.