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Rescue workers conclude search operation at scene of shopping mall fire in Kemerovo

The remains of 64 fire victims have been found and transferred to the Investigative Committee

KEMEROVO, March 27. /TASS/. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry is concluding its search operation at the scene of the deadly fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall in Kemerovo, Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov said on Tuesday.

"We are winding up the search operation," the minister said at a meeting of the operational headquarters at the scene of the tragedy.

According to Puchkov, the Emergencies Ministry will now regroup its forces and a part of rescue workers will continue working at the scene.

As First Deputy Emergencies Minister Vladlen Aksyonov said, the remains of 64 fire victims have been found and transferred to the Investigative Committee.

"As of now, the work has been completed to disassemble the building’s unsafe structures and a whole set of measures has been carried out to prevent repeat fire outbreaks," he said.

The fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall in Kemerovo erupted on March 25 on the top floor of the four-story building. According to the latest information, the fire has claimed the lives of 64 people, including 41 children. Of these, twenty-five have been identified.

Meanwhile, a source in the emergency services told TASS that another 68 people had been injured and poisoned with combustion products.