Thousands of people in Chapeco, Brazil, held a vigil on Tuesday evening for the victims of a plane crash that killed most of the city's football team, Chapecoense. Fans walked from the city centre to the Arena Conda stadium, where they prayed, sang, and shouted the names of the players. A service was also held in the city's cathedral.
The team was flying to Medellin, Colombia, for the biggest match in their history—the final of the Copa Sudamericana—when their plane crashed shortly before landing on Monday night. The cause of the crash remains unclear, with unconfirmed reports suggesting an electrical fault or fuel shortage. Both flight recorders have been recovered.
Survivor Ximena Suarez, a crew member, said: "The lights went out and I don't remember anything after that." Other survivors include defender Helio Zampier Neto, reserve goalkeeper Jakson Follman (who had his right leg amputated), flight technician Erwin Tumiri, and journalist Rafael Henzel.
Brazil has declared three days of official mourning, and minute silences have been held at football grounds worldwide. Brazilian doctors have flown to Colombia to identify the bodies, which is expected to be relatively straightforward due to the lack of a fire at the crash site.
In a show of solidarity, Colombian team Atletico Nacional has offered to concede the final to ensure Chapecoense are declared champions. Brazilian first division clubs have offered to lend players to Chapecoense free of charge for the 2017 season and asked the league to protect the club from relegation for three years. Tributes have also come from football stars including Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Wayne Rooney.
