94 killed in Russian cafe blast

Quickgun Murugan

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94 killed in Russian cafe blast | The Australian



Ninety-four people were killed overnight when a blast hit a cafe in the Russian Ural city of Perm, as officials ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack.

"Ninety-four people were killed and 139 injured'' in the blast and the ensuing fire, a regional emergency situations ministry spokesman in Perm told AFP by telephone.

Earlier, the Perm region's public security minister Igor Orlov said, speaking at the scene of the accident, that 90 people were killed and their bodies were being moved out.

The blast hit the cafe as over 200 people, mostly the cafe's employees and their families, were partying inside to celebrate the bar's eighth anniversary, local police said as quoted by ITAR-TASS, suggesting that the explosion was caused by a fireworks rocket gone wrong.

A police source told RIA Novosti that most victims succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning in the crush as the panicked crowd rushed to escape.

Local officials ruled out the possibility that the blast was due to a terrorist act, Interfax reported.


"The accident was due to a violation of instructions when launching fireworks,'' senior judicial official Vladimir Markin was quoted as saying.

According to emergency ministry officials, the fireworks used in the cafe were meant to be launched in open space and forbidden for use in closed areas.

However, a police source quoted by RIA Novosti said that criminal intent could not be ruled out, with ``several details I cannot elaborate on pointing at that version.''

The source compared the Perm accident with the 1977 fire at Moscow's titanic Rossiya hotel, which killed 42 people. The Rossiya fire was ruled to be due to negligence, but the version of deliberate arson remained persistent.

A government commission was set up to tackle the tragedy, and two airplanes equipped to transport people with serious burns would be dispatched to Perm, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said as quoted by RIA Novosti.

Russia's Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev and Health Minister Tatyana Golikova ``are due to fly to Perm shortly to set up help for the injured as well as find out the cause of the tragedy,'' Peskov added.

Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika vouched to personally oversee the investigation, RIA Novosti reported.
 

Rage

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So what is it, a nightclub or a cafe?

My commiserations to our russkie friends and to the victims and families of the dead. May their souls rest in peace.


 

bengalraider

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My condolences to the families of the deceased and injured!
 

Vladimir79

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So what is it, a nightclub or a cafe?

My commiserations to our russkie friends and to the victims and families of the dead. May their souls rest in peace.


Khromaya Loshad is a nightclub in the next district from my home. Some friends of mine were trying to get me to go see DJ Dobryanskih from RETRO FM but I declined since I don't like being around all that smoke of all kinds, nor do I have money to waste. My friends are dead from what I know, they aren't returning anyone's calls nor notification from hospital. A bunch of people from Motovilikha were there and my office closed for the day... without pay. Not like it mattered. we haven't been payed in two months. Life sucks and this just makes it worse. Screw it...
 

Quickgun Murugan

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Khromaya Loshad is a nightclub in the next district from my home. Some friends of mine were trying to get me to go see DJ Dobryanskih from RETRO FM but I declined since I don't like being around all that smoke of all kinds, nor do I have money to waste. My friends are dead from what I know, they aren't returning anyone's calls nor notification from hospital. A bunch of people from Motovilikha were there and my office closed for the day... without pay. Not like it mattered. we haven't been payed in two months. Life sucks and this just makes it worse. Screw it...

I hope your friends don't belong to the list of dead and that you hear from them soon no matter how remote the possibility might be.
 

Rage

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Khromaya Loshad is a nightclub in the next district from my home. Some friends of mine were trying to get me to go see DJ Dobryanskih from RETRO FM but I declined since I don't like being around all that smoke of all kinds, nor do I have money to waste. My friends are dead from what I know, they aren't returning anyone's calls nor notification from hospital. A bunch of people from Motovilikha were there and my office closed for the day... without pay. Not like it mattered. we haven't been payed in two months. Life sucks and this just makes it worse. Screw it...

That is a shame. I'm truly sorry to hear about your friends, and against all odds, hope for their return.

Our collective commiserations are with you and the Russian people, and with those who lost their loved ones in the blast.

Strength, steadfastness & honour.
 

roma

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Khromaya Loshad is a nightclub in the next district from my home. Some friends of mine were trying to get me to go see DJ Dobryanskih from RETRO FM but I declined since I don't like being around all that smoke of all kinds, nor do I have money to waste. ...

shocking news.

Deepest condolences to family of the lost and colleage Vlad. I pray your friends are uncontactable only temporarily.

i just saw the news video . Russian thoroughness will discover the cause.
 

enlightened1

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My deepest condolences to their families.
 

bengalraider

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Just heard on BBC that a juggler apparently was juggling fireworks and these set the roof on fire, this is insane! the owners and management of the club must be prosecuted for sheer negligence, there are a lot of fire proof materials available that could have been used to cover the ceiling but they were not.
 

jakojako777

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Five arrested in Perm club fire, death toll reaches 107



Deepest condolences to families and all Russians




Five arrested in Perm club fire, death toll reaches 107
More on this topic

Five arrested in Perm club fire, death toll reaches 107 | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Five people have been arrested in connection with the nightclub fire in Perm on Saturday that killed more than 100 people, with a sixth suspect in hospital following the tragedy.

Perm Region emergencies officials said late on Saturday that 107 people had died as a result of the blaze, and released the names of 98 victims.

The fire at the Lame Horse bar in the Urals city 1,200 km (700 miles) east of Moscow was started about 1 a.m. by an indoor fireworks display. More than 120 people were injured, and most are in serious condition.

The Emergency Situations Ministry has flown more than 70 of the wounded to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Chelyabinsk for specialist treatment. Many of those transferred had extensive burns, and several were on respirators.

The health minister said earlier on Saturday that most of the victims were badly burnt, and the ministry announced that cosmetic and plastic surgery would be provided free to those who require it.

The two co-founders, as well as the bar's manager, art director, and the individual who set the fireworks, have been detained and questioned, while a sixth suspect, the leaseholder, is in hospital in a critical condition.

President Dmitry Medvedev, who declared Monday a day of national mourning, accused those running the club of gross negligence, and called for harsh punishments.

"They have no brains and no conscience. They showed complete indifference to what was going on... They must face full punishment," he said.

The president said the sentences the culprits face under current laws are far too mild, and said regulations should be tightened.

A criminal case has been opened for violations of fire regulations that resulted in multiple deaths, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

The Lame Horse had twice been fined for violating fire safety regulations, but to no effect, while local residents said a fire a year ago had been extinguished before it got out of control.

The 500-square-meter venue, which was almost completely destroyed, had a suspended ceiling, allowing the flames to spread rapidly.

Eyewitnesses said the there was only one exit, and a stampede ensued. Russian TV channels broadcast footage filmed by a partygoer with a digital camera, showing the flames spreading over a ceiling decorated with twigs, in an apparent barn theme.

Russia's regional prosecutors have been told to organize urgent nationwide inspections of public gathering venues, to avoid a repeat of the tragedy in Perm as the New Year holidays draw near.

The General Prosecutor's Office said on its website: "A telegram has been sent to all Russian regions, ordering prosecutors to immediately organize, in cooperation with the local departments of the Russian emergencies ministry and other supervisory bodies, a range of measures to ensure the safety of citizens at mass gathering venues."

The checks will focus on fire safety, including the storage and use of fireworks and the presence of adequate fire exits, and must be completed by December 15. Those found in breach of fire safety laws may face criminal charges, the statement said.

MOSCOW, December 5 (RIA Novosti)
 

IBRIS

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Russia plans nationwide inspections over nightclub fire tragedy

Russia's regional prosecutors have been told to organize urgent nationwide inspections of public gathering venues, to avoid a repeat of Saturday's fire in a nightclub which killed at least 109 people.

The fire broke out at the Lame Horse club in the city of Perm during an indoor fireworks display soon after 01:00 a.m. local time. The death toll is expected to rise, with over 120 injured, many of them critically.

The General Prosecutor's Office said on its website: "A telegram has been sent to all Russian regions, ordering prosecutors to immediately organize, in cooperation with the local departments of the Russian emergencies ministry and other supervisory bodies, a range of measures to ensure the safety of citizens at mass gathering venues."

The checks will focus on fire safety, including the storage and use of fireworks and the presence of adequate fire exits, and must be completed by December 15. Those found in breach of fire safety laws may face criminal charges, the statement said.

So far, 68 of the bodies have been identified. Dozens of injured clubgoers have been airlifted to Moscow and St. Petersburg for treatment.

Health Minister Tatyana Golikova earlier said that dozens of people were being kept alive with medical ventilators, and that most of the injured have burns covering more than 50% of their bodies.

Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu, currently in Perm with other cabinet ministers, told President Dmitry Medvedev in a video linkup that the the club's owners had received two previous fines for breaching fire safety regulations, and were due for an inspection on Monday.

"The fire broke out in a place where pyrotechnics should not have been used under any circumstances," he said.

The venue had a suspended ceiling, which allowed the flames to spread rapidly.

"The power shut off immediately, and panic broke out," Shoigu said.

Eyewitnesses said the venue had only one exit, and a stampede ensued. Russian TV channels have shown footage filmed by clubgoer with a digital camera, showing the flames spreading over a ceiling decorated with twigs, in an apparent barn theme.

The owner and manager of the club, Anatoly Zak and Svetlana Yefremova, have been arrested, and face jail terms of up to seven years. Four other suspects are wanted in the case.

President Medvedev accused those running the club of gross negligence, and called for harsh punishments.

"They have no brains and no conscience. They showed complete indifference to what was going on... They must face full punishment," he said.

The president said the sentences the culprits face under current laws are far too mild.

"We must think about the laws on such events. They should be much stricter, and failure to abide by them, including breaches of fire safety regulations, should be much more severely punished."

Medvedev declared December 7 a day of national mourning for the victims of the tragedy.

The venue, which covers an area of 500 square meters, was almost completely destroyed by the blaze.

The club is known to have held several indoor fireworks displays in the past, shown in the image gallery on the Lame Horse website www.clubxl.ru.

MOSCOW, December 5 (RIA Novosti)
Russia plans nationwide inspections over nightclub fire tragedy | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire
 

IBRIS

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Medvedev urges harsh punishment for culprits in nightclub fire

MOSCOW, December 5 (RIA Novosti)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has accused the management of a nightclub in the Urals where a fire killed 103 people of gross negligence, and called for harsh punishments.
A fire broke out in the Lame Horse club in the Urals city of Perm during an indoor fireworks display soon after 01:00 a.m. local time. Over 130 people are injured.
Emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu said during a video conference with the president that the club's owners had received two previous fines for breaching fire safety regulations, and were due for an inspection on Monday.
Medvedev said: "They have no brains and no conscience. They showed complete indifference to what was going on... They must face full punishment."++
Medvedev urges harsh punishment for culprits in nightclub fire | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire


Urals nightclub bosses arrested after fatal fire


MOSCOW, December 5 (RIA Novosti)
The owner and manager of a nightclub in Russia's Urals where a fire killed at least 102 people during the night have been arrested, investigators said.
The fire engulfed the Lame Horse club in the city of Perm at around 1:00 a.m. local time during an indoor fireworks display. At least 134 people are injured, of whom half are in a serious condition, the emergencies ministry said.++
Urals nightclub bosses arrested after fatal fire | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire


Four suspects wanted over Urals nightclub fire

MOSCOW, December 5 (RIA Novosti)
Four more suspects are wanted in connection with a nightclub fire in Russia's Urals that killed at least 102 people on Saturday, investigators said.Four more suspects are wanted in connection with a nightclub fire in Russia's Urals that killed at least 102 people on Saturday, investigators said.
The owner and manager of the Lame Horse nightclub in Perm, Anatoly Zak and Svetlana Yefremova, have already been arrested for breaching fire safety rules in an indoor firework display, and face jail terms of up to seven years.
"They are being questioned by investigators. In addition, four other suspects have been identified. Measures are now being taken to have them arrested," Investigation Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told RIA Novosti.++
Four suspects wanted over Urals nightclub fire | Top Russian news and analysis online | 'RIA Novosti' newswire
 

Vladimir79

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It had been one day and people are already commiting fraud stealing aid from the victims. These people make me sick!
 

enlightened1

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Horrific scenes of the blaze that swept through a Russian nightclub, killing 109 people, were caught on amateur video.

The footage shows celebrations turning to panic as the fire quickly spread through the Lame Horse club in Perm late on Friday night.

Initially, the club-goers exchanged nervous glances as wisps of smoke began to appear, but the scene turned to horror as flames raced across the ceiling, which had been decorated with twigs.

Officials said 109 people died in the fire.

Authorities said they arrested the registered owner of the club and the manager.

Officials said the club managers ignored repeated demands from authorities to change the club's interior to comply with fire safety standards.

'They have neither brains, nor conscience,' Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said, urging a tough punishment for the culprits.

Officials said most of the dead suffocated or were crushed at the exit.

'The fire spread very quickly,' said Marina Zabbarova, chief investigator for the local prosecutor's office. 'Panic arose which led to a mass death of people.'


Rescuers, right, carry the body of a victim outside a nightclub in Perm. An explosion and fire apparently caused by pyrotechnics tore through the nightclub

News footage shot later outside the Lame Horse showed charred bodies lying in rows on the ground amid a light snowfall. Rescue workers carried bodies on stretchers into waiting vans.

Svetlana Kuvshinova, who was in the nightclub when the blaze broke out, told the AP it started after three fireworks fountains spewed sparks, igniting the plastic ceiling.

'The fire took seconds to spread,' she said. 'It was like a dry haystack. There was only one way out. They nearly stampeded me.'

Another clubgoer said panic spread quickly through the crowd.

'There was only one exit, and people starting breaking down the doors to get out,' said a woman who identified herself only as Olga, smeared with soot and wearing a filthy fur coat.

'They were breaking the door and panic set in. Everything was in smoke. I couldn't see anything.'


Two injured men standing in front of the Lame Horse nightclub in the centre of Perm, a city 720 miles east of Moscow


Rescuers walk near bodies on stretchers gathered outside the club. Most people died from smoke inhalation


Rescuers stand by the bodies of the fire victims


Anxious relatives read lists with names of injured in a nightclub fire at a hospital in Perm

A video recorded by one of the clubgoers and run by Russian television stations showed flames engulfing the ceiling decorated with willow twigs as a host shouted in a casual tone: 'Ladies and Gentlemen, guests of the club, we are on fire. Please leave the hall!'

People reluctantly and slowly began heading toward the exit, some of them turning back to look at the burning ceiling, but then rushed away in panic as flames quickly spread around seconds later.


Many of the victims were crushed to death in the scramble for the exit (left); The aftermath (right)

Some 200 relatives of the victims waited in anguish outside a morgue on the outskirts of the city for the slow work of identifying the bodies. A regional emergency situations ministry spokeswoman said 57 people had been identified.

She said a further 130 people were injured in the blaze overnight from Friday to Saturday, and local residents said hospitals had put out an urgent call for blood donors in the wake of the tragedy.

Firefighters were on the scene in downtown Perm one minute after the alarm was called in, the Emergency Situations Ministry said, and they took less than an hour to put the fire out.


Investigators and relatives of the victims gather outside the club. A top investigator said that there was no suspicion of a terrorist attack


Relatives of a victim of a fire embrace after taking part in a corpse identification procedure at a local morgue in Perm

Zabbarova, the top investigator, said that there was no suspicion of a terrorist attack.

Russia has been on edge since last week's bombing of the high-speed Nevsky Express passenger train midway between Moscow and St. Petersburg, which killed 27 in the first deadly terrorist attack outside Russia's restive Caucasus republics since 2004. Chechen rebels claimed responsibility for the blast.

Perm, a city of around 1 million people, is about 700 miles (1,200 kilometers) east of Moscow in the Ural Mountains.

Enforcement of fire safety standards is notoriously lax in Russia and there have been several catastrophic blazes at drug-treatment facilities, nursing homes, apartment buildings and night clubs in recent years.

Emergency Services officials in a televised meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev said managers at the venue had violated fire safety laws and repeatedly ignored orders to comply with standards.

'Warnings were issued, but they didn't react,' Medvedev said, urging swift punishment for those responsible. 'They have neither brains, nor conscience!'

Premier Vladimir Putin ordered a government commission to probe the causes of the tragedy, saying in a statement: 'It is necessary to launch a minute investigation, punish the culprits and discovered the causes of this monstrous disaster.'

Russia records nearly 18,000 fire deaths a year, several times the per-capita rate in the United States and other Western countries. Nightclub fires have killed thousands of people worldwide.

Ten people died when an entertainer's clothing was ignited during a so-called 'fire show' at a Moscow club in March 2007.

In February 2008, a fire in the Golden Rock nightclub in the Siberian city of Omsk killed four people. Officials said the blast might have been caused by natural gas.

A nightclub fire in the U.S. state of Rhode Island in 2003 killed 100 people after pyrotechnics used as a stage prop by the 1980s rock band Great White set ablaze cheap soundproofing foam on the walls and ceiling.


Police stood guard outside the club where flowers were left in tribute to the victims this morning
 

enlightened1

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Emergency doctors carry a victim of a night club fire to a plane at an airport in Perm. Many of the injured were sent for treatment to Moscow's top emergency hospitals


A heavily wounded victim of the fire in the night club Lame Horse in Perm is brought to the Sklifasovsky hospital in Moscow


Medical workers help the victims of a fire in Perm on board a flying hospital on the way to Moscow. President Dmitry Medvedev has demanded tough punishment for the owners of a Russian nightclub
 

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