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Russia’s Investigative Committee revises number of fatalities in Kemerovo fire to 60

The investigators have received the results of all DNA tests as part of the criminal case regarding the Kemerovo fire

© Maxim Grigoriev/TASS

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Emergencies Ministry: Short circuit could have caused Kemerovo shopping mall deadly fire

MOSCOW, April 20. /TASS/. Revised data shows that a total of 60 people were killed in a fire that engulfed a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, the Russian Investigative Committee reported on Friday. Prior reports suggested 64 fatalities.

"The fire in the Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall has left 60 people dead. The investigators have received the results of all DNA tests as part of the criminal case regarding the Kemerovo fire. All those killed in the blaze have been identified, permits were issued to bury 37 people," the Investigative Committee said. Previously, permission was granted for the burial of 23 victims.

According to Investigative Committee Spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko, the investigators were able to establish the final death toll thanks to efforts in verifying all reports on missing citizens and expert findings.

The devastating fire in the shopping mall broke out on March 25. Earlier reports said it had killed 64 people, including 41 children. The criminal case is being investigated, with eight defendants named in it.

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