At least 15 people have died in a fire that broke out in a cafe in the Russian city of Kostroma, some 300 kilometers from Moscow, according to a new report announced by local authorities.
“The death toll is 15,” a source at Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry told Interfax.
Previously, the governor of the region, Sergei Sitnikov, had indicated on the Telegram social network that 13 people had died in the incident.
According to preliminary information, one of the visitors to the establishment may have used a flare gun during a dispute, causing the fire.
As a result, five people died of poisoning and another 10 were found under the rubble of the cafe whose roof collapsed in the fire.
The flames began this morning in the “Polígono” cafe and were extinguished this morning, added the official, who indicated that there are five wounded.
According to the emergency services, the fire spread to an area of 3,500 square meters.
Russian news agency Ria-Novosti, citing a police source, said 250 people had been evacuated from the building where the fire broke out.
The authorities opened a criminal case to fully clarify the circumstances of the incident.
Source: TSF
