Seven people were killed and at least 12 suffered burns when fire broke out early today at a hospital for the mentally ill in Russia.
A spokesman for Russia's emergencies ministry said the fire started at about 4am (1am Irish time) at the two-storey hospital at the village of Dmitrovsky Pogost 150 km southeast of Moscow.
There were 53 patients in the hospital at the time and two staff members. The majority of people were evacuated, the spokesman said, adding: "Seven people died and 12 people have sustained burns."