Fire At A Popular Russian Mall Leaves 64 People Dead

Smoke rises above a multi-story shopping center in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, about 3,000 kilometers (1,900 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, March 25, 2018. At least three children and a woman have died in a fire that broke out in a multi-story shopping center in the Siberian city of Kemerovo. (Sergei Gavrilenko/Associated Press)

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64 people are now dead after a huge fire happened Sunday afternoon within the Winter Cherry Mall in Siberia. Majority of the victims were children, the fire started on the 4th floor where the children playroom and cinema were located. Over 300 emergency personnel were sent to save those trapped within the building.

Russian investigators say fire exits were blocked and a security officer turned off the public announcement system when he received a call about the fire. The Investigative Committee said in a statement on Monday that it is searching for a security officer who is suspected of turning off the PA system after he received a call about the blaze.

Four people have been detained in connection with the deadly fire, including a tenant of the mall. The investigators did not give the cause of the fire but said they have obtained evidence proving “flagrant violations” that could have contributed to the heavy loss of life.

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Source : Fox News, The Washington Post