Russian Savings bank and Emergency Ministry share responsibility for Vladivostok fire-victims

Administration of Russian Savings bank and Emergency Ministry lay the blame on each other for large number of victims in fire, which occurred on January 16 in Vladivostok bank branch.

Office of Public Prosecutor of Littoral krai has already brought accusation in negligence, which caused death of people, against senior inspector of State Fire Inspection department of Emergency Ministry Aleksey Lobanov. In opinion of investigators, he should take measures for termination of tenancy in burnt building until revealed violations of fire safety rules are eliminated.

But head of State Fire Inspection department of Russian Emergency Ministry Yuri Nenashev announced that "fire safety can not be provided only through inspection and the main responsibility lies on president of organization - bank in this case".

In his opinion, victims of fire behaved improperly during emergency situation. "Instead of evacuation office workers started to save computer data bases and documents".

Meanwhile, there are lots of rumors and versions of the accident among Littoral citizens. Organized by Vladivostok citizens site informed that number of victims could be more than 9. Witnesses of incident say that administration of the bank was evacuated at first turn and only afterwards fire-escape was moved to burning rooms, where people died.

Moreover there are rumors that bank officials were ordered to hide documents in safe and, therefore, lost time for evacuation. Traffic inspectors were accused of non-admission of car with trampolines, which could amortize jump from large height, to the burning building.

Unapproved meeting took place in Vladivostok on January 21. Participants of the meeting appealed to authorities to carry out objective investigation of the accident and institute criminal proceedings against the guilty.

Governor of Littoral krai Sergey Darkin and head of Vladivostok administration Vladimir Nikolaev came to people. They assured participants of the action that they will take investigation of fire circumstances under personal control.

Wide public response was aroused by fire, which occurred on January 16 in one of the official buildings in Vladivostok. According to official version of events 9 people died in fire and as a result of fall from windows. The majority of victims were young women, who worked in local branch of Russian Savings bank.

sections: Accidents, Region News
regions: Far East region