In the city of Kostroma, 300 kilometers northeast of Moscow, a large fire broke out in a Russian nightclub on Saturday evening: at least 13 people died in the fire.
The fire quickly spread over an area of some 3,500 square meters in the nighttime entertainment center, authorities said on Saturday. There were also several injured. The roof of the Poligon block of flats, which has been popular for decades, is said to have collapsed.
Was the fire started by fireworks?
Russian state television reported that 250 people could be taken to safety from the scene of the accident. The cause of the fire is unclear. Local media in the city, more than 300 kilometers northeast of Moscow, reported that fireworks inside may have sparked the blaze.
There was initially no official confirmation. Violations of basic safety regulations in Russia repeatedly lead to serious fires with many deaths and injuries. (SDA)