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Moscow hospital fire kills dozens Moscow hospital fire kills dozens
(10 minutes later)
A fire at a Moscow drug rehabilitation hospital has killed 42 people. A fire at a Moscow drug rehabilitation hospital has killed 43 people, most of them young female addicts.
Arson is the suspected cause of the blaze which broke out at Moscow's Hospital 17, in the south-west of the city, early on Saturday morning.Arson is the suspected cause of the blaze which broke out at Moscow's Hospital 17, in the south-west of the city, early on Saturday morning.
Firefighters said the fire spread from the second floor of the building, with heavy smoke asphyxiating patients.Firefighters said the fire spread from the second floor of the building, with heavy smoke asphyxiating patients.
Recommendations earlier this year to close the hospital on fire safety grounds had been ignored, a senior official said. Recommendations earlier this year to close the hospital on fire safety grounds were reportedly ignored.
Fire safety officers visited the hospital in February and March, and called for its temporary closure after their second visit, said Russia's chief fire inspector Yuri Nenashev.Fire safety officers visited the hospital in February and March, and called for its temporary closure after their second visit, said Russia's chief fire inspector Yuri Nenashev.
"Unfortunately this decision was not adopted," said Mr Nenashev."Unfortunately this decision was not adopted," said Mr Nenashev.
Firefighters rescued 160 people from the building, and 10 have been hospitalised with carbon monoxide poisoning.Firefighters rescued 160 people from the building, and 10 have been hospitalised with carbon monoxide poisoning.
Two staff are among the dead. Forty-two people died at the scene, and another died later in hospital. Two staff are among the dead.
'Windows barred''Windows barred'
The hospital had been slow to raise the alarm, said a spokesman for the Moscow fire brigade.The hospital had been slow to raise the alarm, said a spokesman for the Moscow fire brigade.
"Secondly, the hospital personnel worked very badly, they did not take steps to evacuate people in the early stages of the fire," said Yevgeny Bobylyov, the Associated Press news agency reported."Secondly, the hospital personnel worked very badly, they did not take steps to evacuate people in the early stages of the fire," said Yevgeny Bobylyov, the Associated Press news agency reported.
However, there were suggestions that staff had been overcome so rapidly by smoke that they had been incapable of taking action.
The walls were reportedly covered with plastic, making the fumes especially hazardous.
A further problem was the lack of exits.A further problem was the lack of exits.
"It was a very particular building with five storeys and only one exit and bars on the windows because it was a drug treatment hospital," said Irina Andrianova, a spokeswoman for Russia's Emergencies Ministry."It was a very particular building with five storeys and only one exit and bars on the windows because it was a drug treatment hospital," said Irina Andrianova, a spokeswoman for Russia's Emergencies Ministry.
"Judging by the placement of the bodies, they really tried to get out," said Alexander Chupriyanov, the deputy emergency situations minister.
Signs of arsonSigns of arson
She said the actual area of the fire was not large, but the thick smoke quickly became a problem.
More than 20 fire engines were sent to the site, where they battled the flames and smoke for an hour before bringing the blaze under control.More than 20 fire engines were sent to the site, where they battled the flames and smoke for an hour before bringing the blaze under control.
"The fire was relatively small, only 100 square metres. But there was very thick smoke, and people got poisoned by smoke in their sleep," one rescue official told Russia's Itar-Tass news agency."The fire was relatively small, only 100 square metres. But there was very thick smoke, and people got poisoned by smoke in their sleep," one rescue official told Russia's Itar-Tass news agency.
Fire inspector Yuri Nenashev said that he was "90%" sure the fire was started deliberately.Fire inspector Yuri Nenashev said that he was "90%" sure the fire was started deliberately.
"No technical means such as heaters, wires or such were found... there was only a wooden shelf, which was the fire's centre, and that indicates arson," he said."No technical means such as heaters, wires or such were found... there was only a wooden shelf, which was the fire's centre, and that indicates arson," he said.