Russia Holds First Funerals for Victims of Shopping Mall Blaze

Russia on Wednesday held a national day of mourning and buried the first victims of a fire that ravaged a busy shopping centre and killed 64 people, most of them children, AFP reported.

Flags were lowered and entertainment events cancelled three days after Sunday’s devastating blaze in the western Siberian city of Kemerovo.

On Tuesday thousands of people had gathered in Moscow and other cities to mourn the victims and vent their anger at the authorities after children were trapped in a locked cinema as the inferno spread through the mall.

The youngest victim was a two-year-old boy, while at least 19 of the 64 people who perished were under 10, said a list published by regional authorities. In total 41 children died in the fire.

A criminal investigation has been opened and five people have been detained over the incident.

President Vladimir Putin -- who was this month reelected for a fourth term -- on Wednesday asked ministers to observe a minute’s silence and called for safety checks at similar shopping centres.

“We need to look at leisure and shopping centres of this kind and this should not be done just on the spur of the moment -- it is absolutely evident that safety must be ensured,” Putin said.

He visited Kemerovo on Tuesday after a huge outpouring of public grief and criticism and upbraided officials at a televised meeting.

Russian prosecutors have already ordered checks into fire safety at all shopping centres with leisure facilities.