Deadly blaze in Russia's Sverdlovsk region claims four lives, including children

A devastating fire broke out overnight in the village of Gorny Shchit, located in the Sverdlovsk region of the Russian Federation, killing four people — including three children aged 3, 6, and 17 — according to the press service of the regional health ministry.

The blaze erupted at 2:58 a.m. local time at a gardening cooperative. Eight people were injured in the incident. Among them, a six-year-old child was hospitalised in serious condition with burns covering 60% of his body. A woman sustained multiple rib fractures and a suspected spinal injury. Two other children, aged 10 and 16, declined hospitalisation. As of the latest updates, the regional Ministry of Emergency Situations and law enforcement agencies have not yet issued official statements regarding the cause or circumstances of the fire.

This tragedy comes amid a broader pattern of deadly fires across Russia in recent months, many of them involving children.

According to data from the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations, over 80 children have died in fires since the beginning of 2025. While this represents a 40% decline from the same period last year, authorities have expressed growing concern over the continued frequency and severity of such incidents.

Among the most notable recent cases:

• In Kurovskoye, Moscow Region, five minors aged from one month to 17 years died in a house fire in June.

• In Ilyichevka, Omsk Region, a February blaze claimed the lives of four children, including two toddlers.

• In the Astrakhan Region, five children between the ages of 4 and 11 died in a residential fire in April.

The causes of these fires often include unattended heating devices, faulty wiring, or the absence of adult supervision, as well as inadequate fire detection systems in residential properties.

The Emergencies Ministry has emphasised the need for stricter safety measures and greater public awareness to reduce the risk of such tragedies, especially in rural and low-income communities.

By Tamilla Hasanova