AT: A fire in a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo has claimed at least 64 lives, with dozens still missing. Forty-one of those dead are children.
Protests erupted in Kemerovo as information came out that the fire alarm was switched off and exits were blocked.
Some 300 people rallied outside the local government headquarters on Tuesday, demanding that officials be sacked over the fire safety shortcomings.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but Russia’s Investigative Committee has spoken of “serious violations” at the Winter Cherry mall.
Wednesday will be a day of mourning throughout Russia, Mr Putin has decreed.
President Putin also expressed indignation over the disaster – though he did not speak to the crowd.
“What is happening here?” he said, after laying a wreath. “This is no battle or an unexpected methane outburst in a mine.”
“People, children came to relax. We are talking about demography and are losing so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence, sloppiness.”
Putin is being kind when he refers to “sloppiness”:
Sunday’s blaze started on an upper floor of the complex at about 17:00 local time (10:00 GMT).
The mall’s shops, cinema and bowling alley were packed at the time as it was the beginning of the school holiday.
Video on social media showed people jumping from windows to escape.
The Investigative Committee says a fire safety technician at the complex “switched off the alarm system” after being alerted about the fire.
It said a criminal investigation had begun.
Five people have been arrested including the official suspected of deactivating the public address system.
In a Facebook post (in Russian), Kemerovo politician Anton Gorelkin said that “fire exits were shut, turning the complex into a trap” and “there was no organised evacuation”.
He also said a fire extinguisher that could have doused the flames at the start did not work.
Russian media are doing their best to absolve Putin of any blame, and certainly local officials have a lot to answer for. People are going to jail over this shocking incompetence demonstrated by government officials – government officials who, ultimately, represent Putin. read more
This is the clearest evidence I’ve ever seen to impeach Trump, but it looks like it might be a frame job.
Where was Auntie Maxiene when the fire started?
BAN FIRE!!!
AND shopping malls!!!
For the CHILDREN!!!
😳
In the USA, Putin would have to endure 18 months of countless hearings and special investigators before somebody would declare he had no intent.
Bet he wishes Hillary won, now.
Media are keeping quiet.
http://meduza.io/en/feature/2018/03/27/children-die-every-day-many-have-aids
They build their malls with the same quality control they exercise on their nuclear reactors.
Executions to begin forthwith.