At least 15 people died and five were injured in the early hours of Saturday (5) in a fire that consumed a nightclub in the Russian city of Kostroma, about 300 km from Moscow. Investigators claim the fire would have started after the use of a flare gun inside the establishment.
Rescue teams managed to remove approximately 250 people from the site, which in addition to being a nightclub also serves as a bar and café. The injured received medical care and are not life-threatening.
Initially, the governor of the region, Sergei Sitnikov, said 13 people had died in the tragedy, but rescue services later found two other bodies. Firefighters say the fire has been extinguished, but aftermath work continues.
According to the Tass agency, a man would have started the fire with a flare gun during an argument. He has already been detained by the police and a criminal investigation has been opened.
State television footage showed dozens of firefighters and emergency responders trying to contain the fire that engulfed the one-story building.
In a video posted on Twitter it is possible to see the sign with the name of the place, “Poligon”, in flames.
A firefighter told regional state television that 50 people and 20 fire engines were needed to extinguish the fire. He explained that it was difficult to control the flames because there was a risk of the building collapsing.
According to the government, the fire was extinguished around 7:30 am.
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