At least 232 people died in a horrendous night club fire early Sunday morning in Santa Maria, Brazil.

The fire, that erupted at 2 am this morning at the night club “Boate Kiss” took place as a local university was hosting an event.

Sources in Brazil say there were over 1,000 people at the event. The club was filled up past its capacity. People pushed and shoved to escape the inferno, as firefighters used axes to break out windows and break through walls to the victims.

It is reported that the blaze started from pyrotechnics used by the band, Gurizada Fandangueira, during a live performance. According to reports, the fire started shortly after band members ignited flares. As they pointed the flares at the ceiling, it began a small fire that quickly spread.

It was also reported that many of the party-goers tried to escape the flames before the fire grew out of control, but were held back by security guards for unpaid bar tabs. Many of the victims were trampled in the mad rush to escape the burning building, the majority of the others died of smoke inhalation from the large amount of toxic smoke that quickly filled the club. They fled the nightclub in droves after someone yelled “Fire!”

According to reports out of the city, there was only one working exit in the buuilding, at least one other exit was locked.