MOSCOW, June 18 (RIA Novosti) - More than 88,000 fires broke out in Russia in January-May 2007 killing over 7,000 people, an emergencies ministry spokesman said Monday.
"7,368 people, including 274 children, were killed in fires" he said.
According to the ministry's data, the number of fires was 88,160, down 8.6% against the same period in 2006.
The spokesman said the cost of damage caused by the fires exceeded 3.7 billion rubles ($142 million).
"Every day in Russia 60 people are killed and 48 injured in fires. Since the beginning of 2007, there have been around 729 fires per day," he said. "74% of all fires are in residential buildings and account for 56% of all damage."
The ministry's fire service has rescued over 42,000 people since January 2007.
