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A massive shopping mall fire in Russia has killed more than 60

A view of the blaze on Mar. 25.
A view of the blaze on Mar. 25.
Image: Russian Emergencies Ministry/Handout via Reuters
By
Johnny Simon
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A fire in a Siberian mall has killed at least 64 people, the BBC reports. The blaze cut through the Zimnaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping center in the city of Kemerovo, about 1,900 miles east of Moscow, on Sunday (Mar. 25). Several witnesses stated they did not hear any fire alarms during the emergency, or see any sort of organized safety protocol from the mall staff.

The cause of the fire is still unknown, though some initial reports are blaming the inferno’s quick spread on the mall’s flammable insulation, according to CNN. The fire is one of the most deadly blazes in post-Soviet Russia.

Photos from the day after show the shopping center’s collapsed roof, while memorials to the victims, at least eight of them children, are rising on the site, filled with with flowers and toys.

Smoke rises above a multi-story shopping center in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on Sunday, Mar. 25.
Smoke rises above a multi-story shopping center in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on Sunday, Mar. 25.
Image: Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP
Pedestrians cross a street near the burning shopping center Zimnaya Vishnya in the West Siberian city of Kemerovo.
Pedestrians cross a street near the burning shopping center Zimnaya Vishnya in the West Siberian city of Kemerovo.
Image: Alexander Patrin/A42.ru/EPA
Fire fighters at the scene of a fire at the Zimnaya Vishnya mall.
Fire fighters at the scene of a fire at the Zimnaya Vishnya mall.
Image: Alexander Patrin/A42.ru/EPA
Onlookers a the site of a fire at the Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center.
Onlookers a the site of a fire at the Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center.
Image: Alexander Patrin/A42.ru/EPA
An aerial view of the multi-story shopping center after a fire, taken on Mar. 26.
An aerial view of the multi-story shopping center after a fire, taken on Mar. 26.
Image: Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP
An aerial view of the multi-story shopping center after a fire, taken on Mar. 26.
An aerial view of the multi-story shopping center after a fire, taken on Mar. 26.
Image: Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP
An aerial view of emergency services cleaning the wreckage.
An aerial view of emergency services cleaning the wreckage.
Image: Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations photo via AP
Members of the Emergency Situations Ministry work to extinguish a fire on Mar. 26.
Members of the Emergency Situations Ministry work to extinguish a fire on Mar. 26.
Image: Reuters/Marina Lisova
A man reacts at the scene of a fire in a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on Mar. 25.
A man reacts at the scene of a fire in a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on Mar. 25.
Image: Reuters/Marina Lisova
Members of the Emergency Situations Ministry work to extinguish a fire on Mar. 25.
Members of the Emergency Situations Ministry work to extinguish a fire on Mar. 25.
Image: Reuters/Maksim Lisov
Smoke rises over the Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center early on Mar. 26.
Smoke rises over the Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center early on Mar. 26.
Image: Alexander Patrin/A42.ru/EPA
A woman speaks on her mobile phone at the scene of the fire on Mar. 25.
A woman speaks on her mobile phone at the scene of the fire on Mar. 25.
Image: Reuters/Maksim Lisov
People lay flowers for the victims of a fire at a multi-story shopping center in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on Mar. 26.
People lay flowers for the victims of a fire at a multi-story shopping center in the Siberian city of Kemerovo on Mar. 26.
Image: AP Photo/Sergei Gavrilenko
People react as they walk past the Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center.
People react as they walk past the Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center.
Image: AP Photo
People grieve near the Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center.
People grieve near the Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center.
Image: Alexander Patrin/A42.ru/EPA
People lay flowers and candles for the victims.
People lay flowers and candles for the victims.
Image: AP Photo/Sergei Gavrilenko
A woman reacts after laying flowers for the victims.
A woman reacts after laying flowers for the victims.
Image: AP Photo/Sergei Gavrilenko
Flowers and candles are laid down near the burnt-out Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center .
Flowers and candles are laid down near the burnt-out Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center .
Image: Alexander Patrin/A42.ru/EPA
People lay flowers near the burnt-out Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center.
People lay flowers near the burnt-out Zimnaya Vishnya shopping center.
Image: Alexander Patrin/A42.ru/EPA
People lay flowers for the victims of Sunday’s fire in a multi-story shopping center.
People lay flowers for the victims of Sunday’s fire in a multi-story shopping center.
Image: AP Photo/Sergei Gavrilenko