China expressed concern for Brazilian nightclub fire victims

China on Monday expressed its heartfelt concern for the victims of a nightclub fire in southern Brazil on Sunday.

"We feel deep sorrow for the great casualties resulting from this severe fire disaster and express our heartfelt concern to the victims," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular press conference.

More than 230 people died early Sunday morning when a fire broke out in the Kiss nightclub in Santa Maria, a university city at the southern tip of Brazil. Another 106 people were injured.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has announced a three-day national mourning period for the dead.