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Families report 67 people missing following Kemerovo fire

In order to avoid mistakes, the Investigative Committee believes it impossible to publish the list of fire victims at the moment

© Maxim Grigoriev/TASS

MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/. As many as 67 people have been reported missing following the Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping mall fire in Kemerovo, Russian Investigative Committee Spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said.

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"As of now, families have reported 67 people missing after the Kemerovo shopping mall fire," she said.

According to Petrenko, families have been provided with 21 burial permissions. "Some bodies are badly burnt so DNA tests are required to identify them. In order to avoid mistakes, the Investigative Committee believes it impossible to publish the list of fire victims at the moment," Petrenko added.

Kemerovo shopping mall fire

A fire erupted on the top floor of the Zimnyaya Vishnya (or Winter Cherry) four-storey shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on March 25, eventually engulfing an area of 1,500 square meters. According to recent reports, the blaze killed a total of 64 people, while more than 60 injured requested medical assistance.

Kemerovo is observing three days of mourning on March 27-29. Flags are flying at half mast, entertaining events have been cancelled across the region.

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