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Russia hospital fire kills 37 in Novgorod region | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Thirty-seven people have died in a fire that engulfed a psychiatric hospital in north-western Russia, officials say. | |
The blaze occurred in the village of Luka, in Novgorod region. The timber-built hospital housed some 60 people. | |
A nurse who tried to guide patients to safety was among the dead, Russian media report. So far 15 bodies have been recovered at the scene. | |
The fire broke out just before 03:00 local time (23:00 GMT Thursday). A patient smoking may have started it. | |
Officials had previously ordered the building to be closed because of safety concerns. | |
The fire started in the male ward and spread quickly through the single-storey Oksochi hospital, emergency ministry officials say. TV pictures later showed the gutted building. | The fire started in the male ward and spread quickly through the single-storey Oksochi hospital, emergency ministry officials say. TV pictures later showed the gutted building. |
"Medical personnel saw a patient who was shrouded in flames. It's possible that he was smoking in bed and the mattress caught fire," regional governor Sergei Mitin told Russia's Interfax news agency. | "Medical personnel saw a patient who was shrouded in flames. It's possible that he was smoking in bed and the mattress caught fire," regional governor Sergei Mitin told Russia's Interfax news agency. |
He added that the ward housed severely ill patients. | He added that the ward housed severely ill patients. |
Forest searched | Forest searched |
More than 20 people were evacuated during the blaze. | |
The fire has now been extinguished, and hundreds of rescuers are searching the nearby forest, hoping to find any survivors who may have taken refuge there. | The fire has now been extinguished, and hundreds of rescuers are searching the nearby forest, hoping to find any survivors who may have taken refuge there. |
A criminal investigation is now under way for "causing death by negligence". | A criminal investigation is now under way for "causing death by negligence". |
Several fires at state institutions across Russia in recent years resulted in heavy loss of life. | Several fires at state institutions across Russia in recent years resulted in heavy loss of life. |
In April, a blaze at another psychiatric hospital near Moscow killed 38 people. | In April, a blaze at another psychiatric hospital near Moscow killed 38 people. |
In 2009, 23 people died at an old people's home in the north-west Komi region, while in 2007, 63 were killed at a home in Krasnodar, southern Russia. | In 2009, 23 people died at an old people's home in the north-west Komi region, while in 2007, 63 were killed at a home in Krasnodar, southern Russia. |
In 2006, a fire at a Moscow drug rehabilitation clinic killed 45 women. | In 2006, a fire at a Moscow drug rehabilitation clinic killed 45 women. |