Moscow - At least 102 people were killed when a fire ripped through a club in the Russian city of Perm, officials said Saturday. Russia's Emergency Ministry said 102 people have been killed and 135 people had been hospitalized, Russia Today television reported.
A spokesman of the regional emergencies service said four of the victims died in hospital. In the morning 85 of the injured remained in critical condition, raising fears of an even higher death toll.
An estimated 233 people were at the Lame Horse club, at a party hosted by the owners to celebrate the club's eighth anniversary. Most of those present had been friends and relatives of the owners and staff, witnesses said.
The blast is believed to have been caused by fireworks, police said.
Most people died of smoke inhalation when trying to flee the burning building, the RIA Novosti news agency quoted officials as saying.
Many people were injured in the stampede to flee the inferno, the spokesman for the investigators, Vladimir Markin, said. He added the possibility of a terrorist attack had been discounted.
Emergency service officials said the explosion took place at about 1:30 am (2330 Moscow time; 2030 GMT).
"The emergency situation took place at about 1:30 in the morning in the café. As far as we know, more than 200 people were present. Use of unlicensed fireworks caused the fire and smoke," Interior Ministry spokesman Valery Gribakin was quoted as saying by Russia Today.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had ordered a plane to be sent to Perm, about 1,400 kilometres east of Moscow, with additional doctors and medical workers. Another plane of the Emergency Ministry has already landed in Perm and would fly as many as 20 of the injured to Moscow for treatment.
President Dmitry Medvedev has asked the ministers of emergencies, interior and health to fly to Perm and coordinate relief efforts on the ground. Residents have been asked to donate blood.
Perm's Minister for Public Safety Igor Orlov, said his ministry set up an emergency information centre for the relatives.
