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Putin informed about shopping mall fire in Kemerovo, issues instructions

"Vladimir Putin extends his sincere condolences to the families of those who died in the fire and wishes the soonest recovery to all those hurt," Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said

MOSCOW, March 25. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been informed about the disastrous fire in a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo killing five people and has issues instructions to offer all necessary assistance, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday.

The fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall in central Kemerovo started on the fourth, top, floor on Sunday, consuming an area of about 1,500 square meters. According to the latest reports, five people died and more than 30 sought medical assistance. Twenty people were saved from the burning building, and some 100 others were evacuated. A criminal case was opened. By now, the fire has been partially localized.

"The president was informed about the tragedy in the Kemerovo region," Peskov said. "Vladimir Putin extends his sincere condolences to the families of those who died in the fire and wishes the soonest recovery to all those hurt."

"Detailed reports about the incident were delivered By Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov and Kemerovo region governor Aman Tuleyev," he said. "The president ordered the emergencies minister to set for the site immediately and tale all necessary measures to mobilize manpower," the Kremlin spokesman noted, adding that additional technical means, including robots, drones and other equipment, would be sent from Krasnoyarsk and Moscow.

"Instruction were also issued to extend assistance to the families of those hurt in the accident," he added.