Two people killed in Russia shopping mall fire

[News_Editor]

Two people killed in Russia shopping mall fire

2011-01-23 09:39:18 GMT+7 (ICT)

MOSCOW (BNO NEWS) -- At least two people were killed and five others were injured in a fire at a shopping center in the southwest Russian Republic of Bashkiria on Saturday, the RIA Novosti news agency reported on Sunday.

The bodies of a young woman and a man were discovered in the five-storey Europa center in the city of Ufa, the republic's capital, a spokesman said.

The cause of the blaze, which covered an area of 1,200 square meters, is still unknown but short circuit, careless handling of fire, and violations of fire safety rules are some of the causes being considered. Local emergency officials said earlier the fire was likely caused by construction work on the fourth floor.

Eyewitnesses, however, said earlier that two cars had exploded near the mall entrance. Artyom Valeyev, spokesman for the presidency of the Russian republic, denied claims of a terrorist attack.

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