At least 64 dead in shopping mall blaze in Russia’s Kemerovo


Russia’s Investigative Committee has confirmed the death of 64 people in a shopping mall fire in Kemerovo.

Another 44 people were injured, Committee’s Spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said.

16 people are still reported to be missing, news agency TASS reports with reference to Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov.

The fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall in central Kemerovo erupted on Sunday on the top floor of the four-storey building engulfing an area of some 1,500 square meters.

Twenty people were rescued from the blaze and about 100 were evacuated. The fire has been reported to be localized. A criminal investigation has been launched.

The shopping mall with an overall area of 23,000 square meters was opened in 2013. It has a parking lot for 250 cars, shops, a bowling alley, a children’s center, a cinema, food courts and a petting zoo.

belsat.eu, following TASS

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