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DNA results to identify victims of Siberian fire tragedy within 3 days, authorities vow

According to recent reports, the fire took the lives of 64 people

A man mourning the victims of the March 25 fire in Kemerovo Kirill Kukhmar/TASS

A man mourning the victims of the March 25 fire in Kemerovo

© Kirill Kukhmar/TASS

KEMEROVO, March 27. /TASS/. The relatives of the Kemerovo mall fire victims, who provided their samples for DNA tests, will receive the results within three days, the region’s Deputy Governor Sergei Tsivilev said on Tuesday.

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Earlier forensic experts had arrived in Kemerovo from Moscow and began working on DNA tests for the remains.

"Within around three days those who provided DNA will get all the data," Tsivilev promised at a meeting with citizens.

The catastrophic blaze the engulfed the Zimnyaya Vishnya (or Winter Cherry) shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo occurred on March 25. The conflagration started on the top floor of the four-story mall, covering an area of some 1,500 square meters. According to recent reports, the ensuing inferno took the lives of 64 people. More than 60 others have sought medical assistance, and 15 of them are in hospital. Some 25 bodies, including of 13 children, have been identified.

Kemerovo has declared March 27-29 as a three-day mourning period. Flags will fly at half-mast in the towns and villages and all entertainment events will be canceled.

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