OHS, Health - Mall Fire Kills At Least 37

Russian authorities have significantly raised the death toll from a fire that swept a movie theater and the top floor of a mall in southwestern Siberia.  At least 37 people are dead and scores are still missing.

The fire raged for twelve hours at the Zimnyaya Vishnya, or Winter Cherry, mall in Kemerovo, which is about 3,600 kilometers east of Moscow.  Local official Vladimir Chernov said the fire started on the mall's fourth floor and consumed almost 1,600 square meters.  Another report said the fire started in the theater, where eleven bodies were found.  Of the 69 people still unaccounted for, 40 of them are children.

People were seen jumping from upper floors of the structure to escape the thick smoke that appeared to choke the whole of the interior.

Witnesses said the fire alarms did not go off, and firefighters said emergency doors were locked which complicated their rescue efforts.  A criminal investigation is underway.