Eight foreigners have been killed and four injured in a fire at a Moscow hostel, news agencies reported early Friday.
The flames broke out on the first floor of the building in southwestern Moscow due to likely equipment failure or a power grid emergency, the state-run TASS news agency cited an unnamed emergency services source as saying.
Two-hundred people reportedly evacuated from the apartment block in which the ground-floor hostel is located. Four were hospitalized after jumping from the upper floors of the several-story building.
Authorities believe the eight victims died from smoke inhalation.
The victims are believed to have been prevented from evacuating to safety by window security bars and a blocked emergency exit, TASS reported, citing unnamed sources. Hostel owners may have also had deactivated a fire alarm.
The victims are believed to be migrants from unspecified countries, TASS quoted an unnamed source as saying.
Authorities have opened a criminal case into safety violations that led to deaths.
Accidental fires are common in Russia, where hundreds of blazes are recorded each year due to aging and dilapidated infrastructure and non-compliance with safety standards that are often lax.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
