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| Russian nightclub fire kills 109 | |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| At least 109 people have died following an explosion at a nightclub in the Russian city of Perm, 1,400km (870 miles) east of Moscow. | |
| Officials said fireworks caused the blast and that most victims had died from smoke inhalation. | Officials said fireworks caused the blast and that most victims had died from smoke inhalation. |
| More than 140 people were reported injured in the accident, which happened at 2315 local time (1815 GMT). | More than 140 people were reported injured in the accident, which happened at 2315 local time (1815 GMT). |
| The Lame Horse nightclub had been celebrating its eighth anniversary, emergency services said. | The Lame Horse nightclub had been celebrating its eighth anniversary, emergency services said. |
| We are talking about a failure to observe fire regulations Prosecutor General's office In pictures: Russian nightclub fire | |
| Regional public security minister Igor Orlov told Itar-Tass news agency: "There were fireworks launched at the scene, and one hit the plastic ceiling, setting all ablaze. People panicked and succumbed to burns, general crush and gas poisoning." | Regional public security minister Igor Orlov told Itar-Tass news agency: "There were fireworks launched at the scene, and one hit the plastic ceiling, setting all ablaze. People panicked and succumbed to burns, general crush and gas poisoning." |
| Russian state-run TV channel Vesti-24 showed bodies piled in the street outside the club. | Russian state-run TV channel Vesti-24 showed bodies piled in the street outside the club. |
| Perm has a population of 1.2 million and is the sixth largest city in Russia. | Perm has a population of 1.2 million and is the sixth largest city in Russia. |
| Planes despatched | Planes despatched |
| Svetlana Kuvshinova, who was in the club when the fire began, said the flames "took seconds to spread". | |
| "It was like a dry haystack. There was only one way out. They nearly stampeded me," the Associated Press quoted her as saying. | |
| Another eyewitness told local TV: "When the merry-making started, when they were warming up, they set off fireworks. | |
| "When I turned back, I saw drops falling off the ceiling and then there was a lot of smoke. Later this huge flame was moving along the ceiling," the unnamed woman said. | |
| A spokesman for the prosecutor-general's main investigative unit told Itar-Tass that it was not a terrorist attack. | A spokesman for the prosecutor-general's main investigative unit told Itar-Tass that it was not a terrorist attack. |
| "We are talking about a failure to observe fire regulations," he said. | "We are talking about a failure to observe fire regulations," he said. |
| The Russian government has set up a special commission to deal with the incident. | The Russian government has set up a special commission to deal with the incident. |
| Regional officials said that fireworks used at the party were too big for closed premises and were intended for outdoor use. | Regional officials said that fireworks used at the party were too big for closed premises and were intended for outdoor use. |
| Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, said two planes equipped to transport people with serious burns were being sent to Perm. | Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, said two planes equipped to transport people with serious burns were being sent to Perm. |
| Government officials were also leaving for the city, he said. | Government officials were also leaving for the city, he said. |
| The BBC's Tom Esslemont, in Moscow, says Russia has a very poor fire safety record with hundreds of people dying in similar incidents every year. | The BBC's Tom Esslemont, in Moscow, says Russia has a very poor fire safety record with hundreds of people dying in similar incidents every year. |
| Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosion? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below: | Are you in the area? Did you witness the explosion? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below: |
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