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Fatal fire at Russia nursing home Fatal fire at Russia nursing home
(1 day later)
At least 23 people are thought to have died after a fire engulfed a care home in northern Russia, local officials have said. At least 22 people have died after a fire engulfed a care home in northern Russia, local officials have said.
The cause of the blaze, in the village of Podyelsk in the Komi Republic, is not yet known. The blaze, in the village of Podyelsk in the Komi Republic, was reported at 1820 (1520 GMT) on Saturday.
Three people were saved from the fire, which was reported at 1820 (1520 GMT). Seven bodies have been found so far.
The building was in flames by the time firefighters arrived and it took them two hours to bring it under control.The building was in flames by the time firefighters arrived and it took them two hours to bring it under control.
Three residents were saved from the fire. Rescuers combing the ruins found 22 bodies, as well as fragments believed to belong to another.
Officials say an unextinguished cigarette could have been the cause.
Grigory Gorbunov, a spokesman for the Emergency Ministry, told Russian TV the authorities were slow to report the fire.Grigory Gorbunov, a spokesman for the Emergency Ministry, told Russian TV the authorities were slow to report the fire.
"The firemen were alerted way too late and when they arrived the whole building was in flames," he said, quoted by AFP news agency."The firemen were alerted way too late and when they arrived the whole building was in flames," he said, quoted by AFP news agency.
Some officials said there could have been as many as 60 people in the building at the time.
The Emergencies Ministry told Reuters that seven bodies had been recovered from the building.
"Firefighters have entered the building and are searching for the missing residents," said spokeswoman Lyubov Terenteva, adding that the fire was close to being extinguished.
President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a full investigation into the incident.President Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a full investigation into the incident.
Russia has experienced a series of fires at state-run institutions in recent years, many blamed on negligence by officials.Russia has experienced a series of fires at state-run institutions in recent years, many blamed on negligence by officials.
More than 60 people died in a fire in a nursing home in the Krasnodar region in southern Russia in March 2007.More than 60 people died in a fire in a nursing home in the Krasnodar region in southern Russia in March 2007.