(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/130426-world-russia-fire-story-355a.photoblog600.jpg)Pavel Sergeyev / APFirefighters and authorities work at a site of a fire of a psychiatric hospital north of Moscow on Friday. By Alastair Jamieson, Staff writer, NBC NewsAt least 36 people were feared dead after a fire raged through an isolated psychiatric hospital north of Moscow on Friday, killing some patients in their beds and others who were trapped by barred windows.
Most of the patients died in their sleep inhaling the fumes as they were likely sedated by prescribed medicine, a police source told the RIA Novosti news agency (http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130426/180855099/38-People-Die-in-Clinic-Fire-Near-Moscow--Health-Ministry.html).
Firefighters were delayed getting to the single-story building because of a closed river crossing. The trip took an hour instead of the expected 20 minutes, according to Russia Today (http://rt.com/news/patients-killed-moscow-psychiatric-hospital-fire-421/), citing local news outlet Komsomolskaya Pravda.
A small tunnel was discovered dug out under the burned hospital, suggesting that one of the patients may have been planning an escape, Russia Today said.
Andrei Vorobyov, interim governor of the Moscow region, said a nurse had led two patients to safety, according to Reuters. He said 36 others were believed to have been in the hospital when the fire broke out.
However, Oleg Salagay, spokesman for Russia’s Health Ministry, said the death toll was 38. “According to preliminary reports, 38 people died, including two medical personnel,” he told RIA Novosti.
UPDATE: 25 bodies recovered after fire at Moscow hospital; 36 people killed - Russia's Investigative Committee on.rt.com/w0hexh (http://t.co/WkNT1VgVq0)
— RT (@RT_com) April 26, 2013 (https://twitter.com/RT_com/status/327680234893762560)
The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear.
Gray smoke billowed from the charred yellow-brick building after firefighters extinguished the blaze, in woods in the village of Ramensky, about 70 miles north of Moscow.
The fire broke out in a room where a group of patients had been placed in quarantine on Thursday, regional official Irina Gumennaya told the Itar-Tass news agency (http://www.itar-tass.com/en/c32/720357.html).(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/130426-world-russia-fire-story1-350a.380;380;7;70;0.jpg)AFP - Getty ImagesA handout photo released by emergency services shows flames rising from the burning psychiatric hospital. "Those who were in there said it happened in a flash. The nurse opened the door to the room and there was smoke, and even when she saw the fire she could not get to the fire extinguisher. It all happened very quickly," he told Russia 24 television, according to Reuters.
He told Reuters some windows had been barred to meet regulations while others had not, so the investigators would be able to determine whether they had prevented people from escaping.
"Obviously, all the patients were sleeping and they were sick people ... so they would have needed help to get out," he said, adding that the nearest fire station was a 40-minute drive away.
Russia’s Emergencies Ministry published a list of 41 patients and medical staff – ranging in age from 20 to 76 - who were inside the facility when the fire started [PDF link in Russian] (http://www.mchs.gov.ru/dop/Vnimanie/summary/Operativnaja_informacija/item/408350/?pdf=1). The two medical staff listed as “to be verified” are believed to be dead, Russia Today reported.
Reuters said more than 12,000 people were killed in fires in 2011 and more than 7,700 in the first nine months of 2012 in Russia, where the per capita death rate from fires is much higher than in Western nations including the United States. Reuters reported:
President Vladimir Putin called for an explanation of the "tragedy" and told emergency services to do all they could to help.
Fires at state institutions in Russia such as hospitals, schools, drug treatment centers and homes for the elderly or disabled often cause casualties, raising questions about safety measures, conditions and escape routes.
Some people stood on the opposite bank of the Moscow canal from the hospital, trying to get across to check whether their relatives had survived. The police had stopped the ferry and fishing boats were not allowed to cross.
"They are not letting the relatives in. Why? How can we get there?" said Konstantin, whose father was in the hospital. "Living conditions? It was a slum in there. No conditions."
Reuters contributed to this report.Related: - Full Russia coverage from NBC News (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/russia)
This story was originally published on Fri Apr 26, 2013 4:43 AM EDT
NBC News