Investigators probe nightclub fire incident in Volga area

KAZAN, November 15 (RIA Novosti) - Investigators are probing an incident at a disco bar in the Republic of Tatarstan in the Volga area where a fire killed two and injured 27 people, police said on Sunday.

Firefighters received a call about the fire at the Atmosfera disco bar in Naberezhniye Chelny on Sunday morning. The fire, which engulfed an area of just 10 square meters, was put out 20 minutes later. However, a man and a woman died in the blaze while 27 people were hospitalized, the police said.

"A criminal investigation into the incident has been launched. Suspects in the incident have been detained," a police spokesman said.

The spokesman said the disco bar's visitors were mostly young people while eight of those hospitalized were in an intensive care unit.

The spokesman also said arson was the most likely cause of the fire.

"Arson is a preliminary cause of the fire. Currently, this version is the dominant one as there are eyewitnesses," the spokesman said.