The cold wave that hit the country this week resulted in a tragic record, as 55 people died in fires nationwide Wednesday, the highest daily toll for fire-related incidents since the summer, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.
“Over the last 24 hours, at least 510 fires were registered, including 364 in residential units,” a spokesman said Thursday, RIA-Novosti reported.
Another 101 people sustained injuries in the incidents, and 46 were rescued unharmed, he said. Last week, 247 people died in fires. Since the beginning of the year, 153,000 fires have been reported nationwide, killing 11,049.