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Russia plans nationwide inspections over nightclub fire tragedy

© RIA Novosti . Igor Kataev / Go to the mediabank Russia plans nationwide inspections over nightclub fire tragedy
 Russia plans nationwide inspections over nightclub fire tragedy  - Sputnik International
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Russia's regional prosecutors have been told to organize urgent nationwide inspections of public gathering venues, to avoid a repeat of Saturday's fire in a nightclub which killed at least 109 people

Russia's regional prosecutors have been told to organize urgent nationwide inspections of public gathering venues, to avoid a repeat of Saturday's fire in a nightclub which killed at least 109 people.

The fire broke out at the Lame Horse club in the city of Perm during an indoor fireworks display soon after 01:00 a.m. local time. The death toll is expected to rise, with over 120 injured, many of them critically.

The General Prosecutor's Office said on its website: "A telegram has been sent to all Russian regions, ordering prosecutors to immediately organize, in cooperation with the local departments of the Russian emergencies ministry and other supervisory bodies, a range of measures to ensure the safety of citizens at mass gathering venues."

The checks will focus on fire safety, including the storage and use of fireworks and the presence of adequate fire exits, and must be completed by December 15. Those found in breach of fire safety laws may face criminal charges, the statement said.

So far, 68 of the bodies have been identified. Dozens of injured clubgoers have been airlifted to Moscow and St. Petersburg for treatment.

Health Minister Tatyana Golikova earlier said that dozens of people were being kept alive with medical ventilators, and that most of the injured have burns covering more than 50% of their bodies.

Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu, currently in Perm with other cabinet ministers, told President Dmitry Medvedev in a video linkup that the the club's owners had received two previous fines for breaching fire safety regulations, and were due for an inspection on Monday.

"The fire broke out in a place where pyrotechnics should not have been used under any circumstances," he said.

The venue had a suspended ceiling, which allowed the flames to spread rapidly.

"The power shut off immediately, and panic broke out," Shoigu said.

Eyewitnesses said the venue had only one exit, and a stampede ensued. Russian TV channels have shown footage filmed by clubgoer with a digital camera, showing the flames spreading over a ceiling decorated with twigs, in an apparent barn theme.

The owner and manager of the club, Anatoly Zak and Svetlana Yefremova, have been arrested, and face jail terms of up to seven years. Four other suspects are wanted in the case.

President Medvedev accused those running the club of gross negligence, and called for harsh punishments.

"They have no brains and no conscience. They showed complete indifference to what was going on... They must face full punishment," he said.

The president said the sentences the culprits face under current laws are far too mild.

"We must think about the laws on such events. They should be much stricter, and failure to abide by them, including breaches of fire safety regulations, should be much more severely punished."

Medvedev declared December 7 a day of national mourning for the victims of the tragedy.

The venue, which covers an area of 500 square meters, was almost completely destroyed by the blaze.

The club is known to have held several indoor fireworks displays in the past, shown in the image gallery on the Lame Horse website www.clubxl.ru.

MOSCOW, December 5 (RIA Novosti)

 

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