13 killed, 5 injured in Russia cafe blaze

MOSCOW

At least 13 people were killed in a fire at a cafe in Russia’s western Kostroma city on Saturday.

Five others were injured in the blaze, which erupted in the early hours after someone fired a flare gun inside the cafe, according to authorities.

Initially, the ministry reported 15 casualties, however the head of Emergency Ministry regional office, Alexey Grekov, corrected the number: "No, the bodies of 13 victims were found at the site of the fire."

The fire engulfed an area of some 3,500 square meters (approximately 37,700 square feet) and caused the cafe’s roof to collapse, Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations said in a statement.

Rescuers evacuated 250 people from the building, while more than 50 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.

A criminal investigation has been launched and authorities are looking for the person who fired the flare gun.