Kemerovo shopping centre fire: At least 37 people dead and dozens missing after blaze
THIRTY-SEVEN people have died and dozens remain missing after a huge fire ripped through a shopping centre in Kemerovo, Russia.
Devastating fire breaks out at shopping centre in Russia
Russian news agencies confirmed this evening 37 people had died, although the death toll could rise.
Almost 300 firefighters were scrambled to the scene as panicked shoppers fled from the mall.
Shocking footage has emerged of emerged of people jumping from windows in a desperate attempt to escape the inferno.
The shopping centre is a very complex construction
Rescuers are still at the scene, attempting to free those trapped inside the shopping centre, which includes several restaurants and a cinema.
Yevgeny Dedyukhin, of Kemerovo's emergency department, said: "We've got 288 emergency personnel working on site, 62 fire units and an airborne group.
"They are all taking part in the search and rescue operation. We are taking all necessary measures to extinguish the fire.
"The shopping centre is a very complex construction. There are a lot of combustible materials."
At least 37 people are reported to have died after the fire in Kemerovo, Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin is understood to have been briefed on the horrific incident.
A spokesman for the Kremlin said: "The president has been informed about the tragedy in the Kemerovo Region.
"Vladimir Putin extends his heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery for the injured."
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tweeted: "My condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the terrible fire in the shopping mall in Kemerovo.
"It is tragic that so many children are dead or missing. I wish a speedy recovery to those injured."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the horrific incident
The case of the fire is as yet unknown and the victims have not been identified.
However, the blaze is thought to started on the fourth floor, where a cinema and a children's entertainment centre are located.
Russia's Investigative Committee this afternoon announced it had launched a criminal investigation into the case.
The traffic in the area around the shopping mall, which is close to Kemerovo's main train station, has been blocked.
Kemerovo, a key coal-producing area, is around 2,200 miles east of Moscow, the Russian capital.