MOSCOW: At least eight people were killed when an illegal hostel housing migrants burned down in a village near Moscow on Thursday, officials said.
The blaze erupted in the early hours of the morning at a two-storey residential building located in the Istrinsky district, northwest of the Russian capital, as confirmed by officials.
According to prosecutors, the fire started around 4:00 am local time (0100 GMT), with two occupants managing to escape the inferno. However, rescuers discovered the bodies of eight victims within the premises, situated on the outskirts of a holiday village.
Investigations revealed that a 23-year-old man had rented the house, subsequently subletting it to foreign nationals who were not registered in Russia, prosecutors said.
Images captured by video footage showed firefighters surveying the aftermath of the blaze, with portions of the building’s structure reduced to smoldering ruins.
Authorities have ruled out gas as a potential cause of the fire. This tragic incident highlights the persistent challenges posed by inadequate safety standards and the ongoing struggle to modernize older housing structures with essential fire prevention measures and equipment.
