Russia detains owner of Sterlitamak complex after fire kills four

The owner of a shopping and sorting complex in the Russian city of Sterlitamak has been detained in connection with a fire that killed four people and injured six others.

The suspect, identified as Sergey R., owned the Solnechny complex, which caught fire on September 22.

“The issue of choosing a preventive measure for him is being decided,” the source said.

Four people were reported dead. The bodies of three sisters were found in a room belonging to a workshop that repaired and tailored clothing. Another woman also died in the blaze.

Six other people were injured and remain in hospital.

The fire broke out during the afternoon of September 22. A total of 47 firefighters and 16 pieces of equipment were deployed to extinguish it, while 17 people, including one child, were evacuated from the complex.

Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case, while the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Eyewitnesses alleged that firefighters arrived too late to begin rescuing people. They also said the building’s automatic fire alarm system was activated, but that the alarm signal did not reach the fire service control panel.

By Tamilla Hasanova