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Criminal case opened over death of 2 people in house fire in Novokuznetsk

The criminal case was opened under Article 109 Part 3 for causing the death through negligence

KEMEROVO, January 8 (Itar-Tass) —— The investigation bodies opened a criminal case over the death of two people in a fire, which broke out in a residential house in Novokuznetsk, spokesperson for the regional investigation department of the Russian Investigation Committee Nadezhda Ananyeva told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

The criminal case was opened under Article 109 Part 3 for causing the death through negligence, she said.

The fire alarm call came at 04:14 Moscow time on Tuesday about the fire in the nine-storey residential house in Novokuznetsk. According to the preliminary reports, the gas cylinder blast triggered the fire. Two people were killed and another eight people were wounded in the fire. Twenty dwellers were evacuated.

The regional authorities will give the material aid to all wounded people and repair four flats from regional and city budgets.

Governor Aman Tuleyev demanded the inspections should be conducted in the residential houses over the unauthorized installment of the gas cylinders, as well as the residential houses and the agencies, which are provided with the gas supply. The special committee will inspect the condition of the entrance in the damaged residential house for its rigidness.

The regional investigation department of the Russian Investigation Committee is conducting an inquiry prior to the investigation.

The detectives of the Investigation Committee and emergency specialists are working at the fire site, but they cannot get in the flat, where the fire broke out, as the ceiling caved in.

The propane cylinder blast, which a 50-year-old man brought to his flat, could have triggered the fire in the residential house in Novokuznetsk, the press service of the regional authorities reported on Tuesday.

“According to the available reports, this man used the propane cylinder for heating a private house with the heating cannon. When the valve of the gas cylinder has frozen up, the man brought this gas cylinder to his flat in the nine-storey house, violating all housing rules in effect,” the press service said.

The regional authorities urged the regional residents to inform urgently about any gas cylinders, which the dwellers of the apartment blocks have. “Now we appeal to the Kuzbass residents again so that they will show vigilance and active citizenship. If they notice someone bringing any gas cylinders illegally in a residential house, you should urgently inform the managing company, the authorities of the city, district and the law enforcement agencies. Meanwhile, you should call the regional call centre of the housing and public utilities sector,” the press service quoted Deputy Governor Anatoly Lazarev as saying.