NEW YORK, Feb 22: Ninety-six people were confirmed dead and 180 injured in Thursday night’s tragedy at a nightclub in Rhode island. The disaster followed a display of pyrotechnics by a rock band.

The blaze at the club erupted at a concert by a heavy metal band, Great White, prompting a stampede by panicked fans.

Most of the victims appeared to have died from severe burns, said Rhode Island Governor, Donald Carcieri.

Officials said others had either died of smoke inhalation, were crushed in the stampede or struck by the collapsing debris.

The death toll rose steadily as workers removed charred bodies. They ended their recovery efforts on Friday evening, but Carcieri told Rhode Islanders to brace for more bad news.

“It would not surprise me to see a fatality number of over 100,” the governor told reporters, saying he feared some of the victims in hospitals may still die of their injuries.

The blaze occurred four days after 21 people were killed in a stampede at a Chicago nightclub when they tried to escape pepper spray and were crushed behind blocked doors.

The Rhode Island club fire has prompted New York City officials to begin more stringent inspections of dozens of similar nightclubs in the city.