A deadly fire swept through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early today, killing at least 245 people attending a university party and leaving at least 200 injured, police and firefighters said.

A fire swept through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early today, killing at least 245 people and leaving at least 200 injured, police and firefighters said.

At least 180 people are now thought to have died in a nightclub fire in the Brazilian city of Santa Maria.