At Least 64 Dead in Russian Mall Inferno

At least 64 have died in a fire in a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo. Many of the deceased were children, and 10 are still missing.

The blaze broke out at 17:00 (14:00 Tbilisi time) on Sunday on an upper level of the complex during the school holidays and the mall’s shops and entertainment areas were fully packed.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but a full investigation has been launched.

4 people have so far been detained; one the head of the company which manages the shopping complex.

Russia's Investigative Committee said that "according to preliminary information, the roof collapsed in two cinemas.

The region's Deputy Governor Vladimir Chernov said a cigarette lighter could have been the cause.

"The preliminary suspicion is that a child had a cigarette lighter which ignited foam rubber in the trampoline room, and it erupted like gunpowder," he said.

However, national news network Rossiya 24 TV, said an electrical fault was more likely.

By Tom Day

Image: www.express.co.uk/