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Fire in Russian psychiatric hospital kills 37 | Fire in Russian psychiatric hospital kills 37 |
(5 days later) | |
A pre-dawn fire has swept through a Russian psychiatric hospital, killing 37 people, Russia's top investigative agency says. Authorities had long warned that the mostly wooden building dating from the 19th century was unsafe. | A pre-dawn fire has swept through a Russian psychiatric hospital, killing 37 people, Russia's top investigative agency says. Authorities had long warned that the mostly wooden building dating from the 19th century was unsafe. |
It was the second such deadly blaze in Russia in less than five months, underlining the widespread neglect of fire safety standards in the country. | It was the second such deadly blaze in Russia in less than five months, underlining the widespread neglect of fire safety standards in the country. |
The fire in the one-story hospital in the village of Luka in the north-western Novgorod region erupted at about 3am on Friday and quickly engulfed the structure, the emergency situations ministry said. | The fire in the one-story hospital in the village of Luka in the north-western Novgorod region erupted at about 3am on Friday and quickly engulfed the structure, the emergency situations ministry said. |
The investigative committee said rescuers had so far recovered 10 bodies. It did not explain how it had confirmed the other deaths. | The investigative committee said rescuers had so far recovered 10 bodies. It did not explain how it had confirmed the other deaths. |
The agency added that the blaze was apparently sparked by a patient. | The agency added that the blaze was apparently sparked by a patient. |
State Rossiya 24 television reported that a witness said a smoking patient had caused the fire. It said a nurse had tried to put out the flames with a blanket but they had spread quickly. The man who triggered the fire was saved, the station said. | State Rossiya 24 television reported that a witness said a smoking patient had caused the fire. It said a nurse had tried to put out the flames with a blanket but they had spread quickly. The man who triggered the fire was saved, the station said. |
Local prosecutors said the patient might have deliberately set his bed on fire. | Local prosecutors said the patient might have deliberately set his bed on fire. |
Emergency officials had demanded the facility be closed after it failed a fire safety check earlier this year. The hospital administration, however, won permission to use it until next year. | Emergency officials had demanded the facility be closed after it failed a fire safety check earlier this year. The hospital administration, however, won permission to use it until next year. |
Emergency officials said 23 of the 60 people in the building when the blaze broke out had been evacuated. Emergency teams were searching the ruins for more bodies and combing a nearby forest for patients who may have fled the blaze or wandered off. Russian officials, however, said from the start they had little hope of finding any survivors. | Emergency officials said 23 of the 60 people in the building when the blaze broke out had been evacuated. Emergency teams were searching the ruins for more bodies and combing a nearby forest for patients who may have fled the blaze or wandered off. Russian officials, however, said from the start they had little hope of finding any survivors. |
The head of Russia's top state investigation agency flew to the area to oversee the investigation. | The head of Russia's top state investigation agency flew to the area to oversee the investigation. |
Russia has a poor fire safety record, with about 12,000 fire deaths reported in 2012. By comparison, the US, with a population roughly double Russia's, recorded around 3,000 fire deaths in 2011. | Russia has a poor fire safety record, with about 12,000 fire deaths reported in 2012. By comparison, the US, with a population roughly double Russia's, recorded around 3,000 fire deaths in 2011. |
A fire at a psychiatric hospital near Moscow killed 38 people in April. | A fire at a psychiatric hospital near Moscow killed 38 people in April. |
Russia's rights ombudsman, Vladimir Lukin, called on Friday for civil society to re-establish control over the country's mental hospitals in light of the fire in Luka. | Russia's rights ombudsman, Vladimir Lukin, called on Friday for civil society to re-establish control over the country's mental hospitals in light of the fire in Luka. |
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