The head of the World Council of Churches expressed his condolences and offered prayers on Wednesday on behalf of global member churches to Brazilian churches and the country's president for the deaths of at least 231 people linked to a nightclub fire last week.

The comments came in two letters by WCC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit as police continue to investigate the incident. 

Police say the deadly incident took place when a band performing at the Kiss nightclub lit a flare which ignited the roof. Panicked patrons attempted to exit the premises through the only working exit. Police say the crush of people led dozens of people being trampled to death near the exit, preventing emergency responders from entering the premises.

Police have detained a club co-owner and two musicians playing at the club when the fire broke out, according to the Associated Press.

"Our prayers are with you as a nation mourning the dead, particularly with those supporting all the people affected, including the churches of different confessions, which are providing the necessary pastoral care and spiritual support to all people, who one way or the other have been affected by this calamity," wrote the Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the WCC.

Rev. Tveit also wrote a letter to Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, saying that prayers of the churches were with the nation, especially supporting all the people affected.

Rouseff honred victims at a meeting with elected mayors on Monday.

"The pain which I witnessed is indescribable," Rousseff said, according to CNN. "I speak of that pain to remind us all about our responsibility, the executive branch, with our population. In the face of this tragedy, we must make a commitment to ensure that it will never happen again."

Rev. Tveit noted to Rouseff that member churches in Brazil reported ecumenical pastoral efforts being made locally and nationally, saying they were a "clear signal of the Christian unity and solidarity that we confess in our work worldwide."

"We have also heard about and commend the intense efforts of your government to relieve the suffering of the families and to provide the indispensable care for those who are still hospitalized, and pray for their full recovery," he added.

He concluded by quoting from Psalm 124:8, which states: "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth."

"May the Lord continue to comfort your nation and your people in this time of mourning!" he said.