22 people were killed in a fire in a retirement home in Russia

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Investigators said on Saturday that 22 people died in a fire that broke out in a home for the elderly in Russia's Siberia region.

The fire gutted the second floor of the building, which is not officially registered as a nursing home.

The fire was put out in the early hours of the morning when rescuers finished combing through rubble in the city of Kemerovo, state media and emergency services reported.

Officials said many nursing homes operate without registration in Russia and cannot be subject to inspections because they are considered private property.

And the Russian Information Agency, quoting the city authorities, said that a violation of fire safety regulations may be the reason behind the disaster that occurred on Friday evening in the city located 3,600 km east of Moscow.

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