Originally published on September 14, 2013
Thirty-seven patients were killed at an all-male Russian psychiatric hospital after a fire broke out at the facility on Friday (September 13).
At least 20 patients were able to escape, however, one female orderly was killed trying to rescue patients, while some who were under sedation did not survive the fire.
Meanwhile, foggy road conditions slowed the progress of firefighters travelling from 45 km (28 miles) away.The blaze was reportedly started by one of the patients, although it is unclear whether it was intentionally set or an accident.
Reuters reports, "Fires have frequently claimed high tolls among residents of hospitals, schools and other state institutions over the past decade, raising questions about safety standards.
"Emergency and law enforcement authorities had recently sought to have the run-down wood, brick and concrete building condemned as unfit for use, a senior official said. Federal investigators began a criminal inquiry into suspected negligence.
State television showed firefighters spraying water on the smoking, blackened ruins of the hospital ward.
"A female orderly died while trying to save patients at the hospital in the village of Luka, which is in Novgorod province between Moscow and St Petersburg, the regional branch of the federal Investigative Committee said in a statement.
"It said 37 people were killed, and the Emergency Situations Ministry said 34 bodies had been recovered by 10 p.m. on Friday.
"'Psychiatric hospitals are the worst of all,' said Yuri Savenko, president of the Independent Psychiatric Association of Russia. 'Their condition is pathetic. It's inevitable that such things will occur increasingly often.'
"More than 20 patients were evacuated after the fire broke out shortly before 3 a.m. (2300 GMT on Thursday). The fire left little but the concrete foundation of the single-story building standing."
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