Death Toll Continues to Climb
More Public Safety Officials Fired
THE NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM THE NIGHTCLUB FIRE in Perm, Russia, rose to 118 this morning as one more burn patient died in a Moscow hospital. There are still at least 105 victims remaining hospitalized, most of them in grave condition suffering from extensive burns and/or smoke poisoning.
This video report from Russia Today was filed this morning before the latest death count was announced. This report includes a brief interview with the stage show’s Master of Ceremonies who gained some fame after being recorded as he was attempting to evacuate the patrons and maintain calm during the emergency:
You can review the original Firegeezer report and videos from the fire on SATURDAY HERE.
Earlier today (Tuesday) Perm’s chief fire inspector was fired and the Emergency Situations Ministry said that the fire inspection records for the Lame Horse nightclub appear to have been falsified. Six other city officials were also sacked in the housecleaning this morning. Speaking for the Ministry, Yury Deshyovikh said that the club’s premises was approved in 2003 by a fire inspector who had left his post the year before. “It’s clear that it’s criminal,” he said, according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited Perm before dawn this morning where he added a bouquet of roses to the assortment of flowers, candles and victims’ photos outside the club. Later he met with city officials after stopping by the fire scene.
Referring to the many violations of law and safety procedures, Putin said, “The businessmen in this case violated everything there was to violate. I don’t understand how they could use in a closed room pyrotechnics that had direct instruction written on it in Russian: indoor use prohibited.”
Recent Comments