Eight die in fires in Siberia's Omsk Region

OMSK, November 23 (RIA Novosti) - Eight people died in fires in West Siberia's Omsk Region at the weekend, emergency services said.

The first blaze broke out in a residential building on Saturday in the region's Yevgashchino Bolsherchensky district and claimed five lives. Two children were among the victims.

The second fire took place on Sunday in the small town of Moskalenki, some 100 kms from the regional capital of Omsk.

"When firefighters arrived, the veranda was ablaze," a spokesman said.

Alcohol and negligence have been stated as the causes for both fires.

According to Russia's emergency services, 15,165 people died in fires across the country in 2008, including 584 children. On average, 42 people die daily in Russia in fires. In the U.S., with a population over twice as large, the figure is around 3,400 deaths a year.