Niterói circus fire, Circus tragedy in Brazil
The Niterói circus fire is one of the worst fire disasters in history.
On December 17, 1961, a fire broke out at the Gran Circus Norte-Americano in Niterói, killing over 500 people.
This catastrophic event had a lasting impact on Brazil's legislation for public performance safety.
No remnants of the circus exist today as it was a traveling show and the site has been repurposed.
The fire was caused by a flare lit by an audience member during the performance.
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August 31, 2026 12:17
