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10 reportedly killed as major blaze engulfs shoe factory in Siberia (VIDEO, PHOTOS) 10 killed in major blaze at shoe factory in Siberia (VIDEO, PHOTOS)
(about 7 hours later)
A major blaze has ravaged a shoe factory near the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, covering about 2,000 square meters with plumes of reportedly toxic smoke. Sources in emergency services told local media 10 people were killed. A major blaze has ravaged a shoe factory near the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, killing 10 and injuring at least two workers. The flames engulfed 2,000sq meters, destroying a warehouse packed with shoes and the factory itself.
“According to preliminary estimates, 10 people have died,” a source in the emergency response team told Interfax. “Having noticed signs of a fire at the factory, they attempted to extinguish the blaze on their own, before the arrival of firefighters, but died from carbon monoxide poisoning.”  Nearly 100 firefighters and 30 units of equipment were deployed to put out the massive fire, which started at the shoe factory early on Thursday. The blaze killed 10 people who worked at the factory, Novosibirsk region’s administration said. The workers reportedly tried to extinguish the fire on their own but suffocated in the thick smoke.
A source in the local branch of the Emergencies Ministry confirmed to TASS that the bodies of 10 people have been discovered at the site of the fire. "Ten workers of a warehouse and shoe manufacturer, based in the hangar [of the factory], have died," the source said. All of the victims have been identified as foreign workers. The majority of the deceased are believed to be Chinese, while two individuals were reportedly Kyrgyz nationals. At least two other Chinese nationals received mild burns during the incident.
According to preliminary data, the majority of the deceased are Chinese nationals; two individuals are reportedly Kyrgyz nationals. “The names of the deceased, as well as their exact citizenship, are being established," a source in the emergency services told TASS. The emergency services had been notified of the blaze at around 9am local time. They found the whole 2,000-square-meter building engulfed in flames, which suggested a “late detection and reporting of the fire,”according to the local Emergencies Ministry.
The fire broke out at around 9am local time on Thursday. Some 84 firefighters and 24 units of equipment have assisted in putting out the blaze. Smoke from the fire at the shoe factory is not believed to represent a danger to local residents. "Thick black smoke, formed during the burning of synthetic materials, does not pose any threat to the population,” the local Emergencies Ministry said. According to preliminary findings, an internal short-circuit may have triggered the fire. READ MORE: Fire rages at power plant in Novosibirsk, Russia (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)
Firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze outside the factory by noon. The building was packed with flammable materials and emitted heavy smoke, making firefighting extremely challenging. By noon, the emergency services had managed to contain the spread of the fire, and extinguished it completely within the following few hours. The factory building was largely destroyed by the blaze.
The toxic smoke emissions triggered fears of possible contamination of the surrounding areas. However, the local Emergencies Ministry dismissed those concerns, stating that the “thick black smoke, formed during the burning of synthetic materials, does not pose any threat to the population.”
Preliminary findings indicate that the blaze was likely caused by a short circuit. An investigation into the incident has been launched.