Shopping mall fire incident sparks protest in Russia

Several thousands of people on Tuesday held a protest in Kemerovo city of Siberia, calling on the authorities to release the actual number of casualties in the shopping mall fire incident.

According to the protesters, there were 1,500 people present at the shopping mall when the four-story Winter Cherry shopping mall caught fire.

Chanting "truth, truth", they accused the authorities of hiding the facts and called on the Kemerovo governor to respond to their questions.

The demonstrators also demanded of the government to let them visit the city morgues to identify the actual number of casualties.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kemerovo and held a meeting with regional authorities. He said the incident occurred as a result of a "criminal negligence" and "sloppiness".

Russian officials confirmed on Monday that 64 people, including nine children, were killed in the fire, which broke out on the top floor near a movie theatre and children's play area and then expanded to an area of about 1,600 square meters.

Around 20 people were rescued from the building, while some 100 others were evacuated, the officials said.

Russia's Investigative Committee has opened two criminal cases, including the fire safety rules violations and the deaths by negligence, over the incident.