Russian shopping mall fire leaves 37 dead
Moscow, Mar 26 (IBNS): A fire incident in a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo killed at least 37 people on Sunday, media reports said.
"The overall number of those killed by fire is 37," a spokesman for the firefighting operation’s headquarters told TASS.
The fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall in central Kemerovo started on the fourth, top, floor and consumed an area of about 1,600 square meters, TASS news agency of Russia reported.
According to reports, 64 people,including children, are missing.
The blaze reportedly started on the upper floors of the Winter Cherry complex.
As many as 660 emergency personnel reached the spot to carry out rescue operations.
More than 100 people were evacuated from the building since the fire started.
A criminal case has been registered in connection with the incident.
The cause of the fire is still not known.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz condoled the loss of lives in the tragedy.
He tweeted: "My condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the terrible fire in the shopping mall in #Kemerovo. It is tragic that so many children are dead or missing. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured #Russia."
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars RinkÄ“viÄs also mourned the loss of lives in the incident.
He tweeted: " My sincere condolences to families, relatives and friends of victims of terrible fire in shopping mall in #Kemerovo #Russia, I am very saddened that so many children are dead or missing, I wish speedy recovery to all injured."
Image: Internet Grab
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