The death toll in a fire in the center of Moscow in the building where the hotel and the former hostel are located has increased to seven people, another 11 were injured, emergency services told TASS.
“One victim died in the hospital, thus the total number of deaths is seven people. Two of them are children. 11 people were injured, nine of them were hospitalized, two received medical care on an outpatient basis,” the agency’s interlocutor said.
Earlier it was reported about six dead, including two children. 200 people were evacuated from the burning building.
The building of the MKM hotel in the center of Moscow caught fire on the evening of February 21. According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, 129 people and 43 pieces of equipment were involved in extinguishing the fire. At 23:42, the fire was extinguished on an area of 300 sq. meters.
The Main Investigation Department of the TFR in Moscow opened a criminal case under Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Provision of services that do not meet security requirements”).
The version of deliberate arson is being considered. According to preliminary information, the apartments of the former hostel in the building where the hotel is located caught fire. TASS, citing emergency services, reports that, according to eyewitnesses, one of the residents set fire to things in the corridor. “He drinks day, he drinks night, he didn’t give life to everyone. Maybe he has a “squirrel” that he splashed a combustible mixture,” a resident of the house where the fire broke out told the agency correspondent.