Death Toll From Fire At Russian Defense Research Institute Rises To 17

 April 25, 2022

A firefighters batle the blaze at the Central Research Institute of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces in Tver on April 25

The death toll from a fire at a Russian Defense Ministry research institute in the city of Tver has risen to 17, according to local officials.

The Tver regional administration said on April 25 that five of the 17 bodies found in the debris had been identified from the fire that broke out there on April 21 in the city about 180 kilometers northwest of Moscow.

Previously, local officials had said that at least six people died in the fire while another 27 people sustained injuries, mostly after they jumped from windows of the four-story building.

The fire started on the second floor and covered some 1,000 square meters of the building, which houses the Central Research Institute of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces.

According to preliminary investigations, the fire may have been caused by the malfunction of outdated electrical wiring.

Media reports said rescue teams continued to sift through the charred building looking for further victims.

Based on reporting by TASS, Interfax, and SOTA

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fire-tver-research-institure/31820271.html