Support The Moscow Times!

106 Inmates Evacuated After Prison Fire

More than 100 prisoners were evacuated from their dormitories in a Zabaikalsky region penal colony on Friday after a fire broke out due to a short circuit in a storeroom.

According to prosecutors, the fire broke out at 4:15 p.m. local time in a second-floor storeroom where inmates' outdoor clothes were stored in the Siberian region's Prison No. 5, Interfax reported.

One hundred and six prisoners were in their dormitories at the time.

Seven prisoners suffered injuries after smashing prison windows and climbing out. They are receiving medical treatment for cuts and grazes of varying degrees of severity, the report said.

Prosecutors stressed that there were no fatalities and that firefighters were able to control the blaze half an hour after arriving on the scene.

The evacuated prisoners are being resettled in Prison No. 5's remaining dormitories, the report said, adding that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more