28 March 2018, 04:01
Residents of Southern Russia pay tribute to victims of fire in Kemerovo
In Southern Russia, a number of cities held mourning events to pay tribute to the victims of the fire in the shopping centre "Winter Cherry" in Kemerovo. Residents of Makhachkala, Rostov-on-Don, Sochi, and Cherkessk have reported to the "Caucasian Knot" that they are afraid to visit large shopping centres. They have also called on to punish the persons guilty of the deaths of the people.
The fire at the "Winter Cherry" shopping and entertainment complex in Kemerovo began in the afternoon on March 25, and it was not possible to extinguish it until the other day. The fire killed 64 people, including 13 children. According to eyewitnesses, the fire alarm in the building failed, and people had to get evacuated on their own.
On March 27, in Sochi, in pedestrian Navaginskaya Street, the city authorities installed a black memorial plate with the inscription reading: "Kemerovo 25.03.2018. 'Winter Cherry'. We are mourning together with you." People come to the memorial and bring flowers, children's toys, and candles, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.
In Rostov-on-Don, in front of the monument "Mother and Child", an improvised mourning memorial appeared on March 27.
Residents of Rostov-on-Don interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent have said they cannot free of the shock after they had learned about the tragedy in Kemerovo.
"All people react in the same way: they are terrified. I am now afraid to visit shopping centres with my children, since I feel no confidence in their safety after the incident," said Elena Smirnova, a resident of Rostov.
On March 27, in Makhachkala, about 500 people took part in the mourning events in memory of the victims of the tragedy in Kemerovo. The people brought candles and installed them to write the words: "Kemerovo. We are mourning" and laid toys and flowers, the "Portal of Northern Caucasus" reports today.
On March 27, on Alley of Heroes in the city of Cherkessk, residents of Karachay-Cherkessia paid tribute to the victims of the fire in the shopping centre in Kemerovo and laid flowers, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.
"The tragedy that occurred in Kemerovo cannot leave anyone indifferent. No words of consolation, no compensation can help the families where minor children died, who were not able to leave the closed premises," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Valentina Borisova, a participant of the mourning action.
"I believe investigators should carry out a thorough investigation into the incident and punish the persons whose negligence or oversight provoked the tragedy," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Svetlana Kaitova, a resident of Cherkessk.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Source: CK correspondents
