6 people have died in a fire at a Oksochi Psychoneurological Center in Luka (Malovishersky District, Novgorod Region). According to the Healthcare Ministry, there were 59 people being treated, 22 of them were unable to walk. The fate of 37 patients remains unknown, RIA Novosti reports.
Boris Borzov, Russian Chief Fire Inspector, said that the patients had probably escaped through windows, because the building was only one-storey high.
Reports about the fire were received at about 2.55 am. About 700 square meters of the center were on fire when the fire-fighters arrived. 23 people were saved. The fire was localized at 4.25 am.
An ambulance sent from Veliky Novgorod turned over on the way, resulting in 3 people injured.
15 people saved from the fire will be sent to another center in Proshkovo at Borovichi and 8 in Dobyvalovo at Valday. Transportation to take them to Malaya Vishera has already been sent.
According to a court’s decision, the burned down center was planned to close down on August 1, 2014, due to problems with fire safety, as stated by Lieutenant-General Yuri Deshevykh, Director of the department for monitoring at the Russian Ministry for Emergencies.
