SANTA MARIA, Brazil (AP) -- There was no fire alarm. There were no sprinklers or fire escapes. And when a band member tried to put out a fire that had been started by pyrotechnics, the extinguisher didn't work.
All the elements were in place for the tragedy at the Kiss nightclub early Sunday. The result was the world's worst fire of its kind in more than a decade, with 231 people dead and this southern Brazilian city in shock and mourning.
Funerals began on Monday, as reports continued to emerge about the accumulation of neglect and errors at the packed night spot. Brazilian police officials said Monday they've made three detentions and are seeking a fourth person in connection with a blaze. -- story updated 1 p.m., Monday, Jan. 28
(21 images)
A man cries during the burial of Vinicius Rosado, who died in a nightclub fire, at a cemetery in Santa Maria, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. AP / Felipe Dana
Relatives and friends remove from a hearse the coffin carrying the remains of a person who died in a nightclub fire as they arrive to a cemetery for burials in Santa Maria, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. AP / Felipe Dana
Relatives and friends carry the coffins of two brothers, Pedro and Marcelo Salla, who died in a nightclub fire, through a cemetery as they prepare to bury them in Santa Maria, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. AP / Felipe Dana
Soldiers stand, left, as relatives and friends carry the coffin during the burial of fire victim soldier Leonardo Machado, at a cemetery in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. AP / Felipe Dana
Relatives and friends dance and mourn next to the coffin during the burial of fire victim Tanise Cielo, at a cemetery in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. AP / Nabor Goulart
Friends of fire victim Tanise Cielo mourn after her funeral at a cemetery in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. AP / Nabor Goulart
Gladimir Callegaro, second from right, father of fire victim Marina Callegaro and other relatives mourn during her funeral at a cemetery in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. AP / Nabor Goulart
Family members and friends mourn as they stand around a coffin containing the remains of a victim after the bodies were identified at a gymnasium in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP / Nabor Goulart
Family members and friends stand around coffins containing the remains of victims after the bodies were identified at a gymnasium in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP / Nabor Goulart
Family members and friends stand around coffins containing the remains of victims after the bodies were identified at a gymnasium in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP / Nabor Goulart
Relatives of the victims from the 'Kiss' nightclub fire in Santa Maria, Brazil, identify the bodies Sunday, January 27, 2013. MCT / Neco Varella/ EFE
Relatives cry next to a coffin at a gymnasium where bodies were brought for identification in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP / Nabor Goulart
Relatives and friends carry the coffin of a victim out of a gymnasium where bodies where brought for identification in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP / Felipe Dana
A man stands around coffins containing the remains of victims after the bodies were identified at a gymnasium in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP / Felipe Dana
Police investigators inspect the entrance of the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP / Nabor Goulart
A police officer places flowers outside the Kiss nightclub that were brought by mourners in memory of those who died due to a fire at the club in Santa Maria, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. AP / Nabor Goulart
Relatives of victims react as they wait for news in front of the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP / Ronald Mendes
Relatives of victims react near the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP / Ronald Mendes
A man carries an injured victim of a fire at the Kiss club in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, early Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP /
A victim of a fire in a club is carried in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, early Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP / Deivid Dutra
Firefighters work to douse a fire at the Kiss Club in Santa Maria city, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013. AP /
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