Putin cites 'criminal negligence' in deadly mall fire

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‍Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "criminal negligence" was to blame in Sunday's deadly shopping mall fire which claimed 64 lives.

A total of 41 children were killed in the shopping mall fire, Interfax news reported, citing lists at the Kemerovo rescue center.

Putin arrived in Kemerovo and visited the site on Tuesday morning and laid down flowers near the shopping mall in memory of the fire victims.

The Kemerovo region has also declared a three-day mourning period starting from Tuesday.

Russian investigators say the fire alarm in the mall was switched off and exits were blocked when the fire erupted.

"Since March 19, the fire alarm system has been out of order, but nobody has been engaged in this problem," said Russia's Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin on Tuesday.

He added that a security guard did not switch on the warning system which was operational at the time.

"We cannot give any reasonable explanation to this," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the site of fire that killed at least 64 people at a busy shopping mall in Kemerovo, Russia. / VCG Photo

What happened?

The fire broke out on the upper floor of the Zimnyaya Vishnya, also known as "Winter Cherry" complex, which boasts cinemas, shops and restaurants in Russia's Kemerovo city in western Siberia at around 17:00 local time (1000 GMT) on Sunday.

"According to preliminary information, the roof collapsed in two cinemas," investigators said in a statement.

As of Tuesday, at least 64 people, including children were found dead.

Earlier report of Monday said 16 people are still thought to be missing after the deadly blaze.

The fire at the "Winter Cherry" complex in Russia's Kemerovo city in western Siberia on Sunday has claimed 64 lives. /VCG Photo

Local residents comfort each other at the Zimnyaya Vishnya shopping center hit by fire. / VCG Photo

At least 52 others were injured in the blaze and 12 remain in hospital, according to TASS.

It was not immediately clear how many people were inside the complex when the fire broke out, but earlier reports said 20 people were rescued from the building and a total of 100 evacuated.

The fire has been brought under control over 17 hours after the breakout but it remains unclear how the fire initially started.

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