International Desk: At least 20 people were killed and 6 others were injured after a huge blaze swept through a home for the elderly in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, Russian officials say.

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The fire broke out in a two-storey wooden building in the Siberian city of Kemerovo overnight on Friday.

Initial reports say it may have been caused by a faulty heating boiler.

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The private home for the elderly was operating illegally, officials were quoted as saying by Tass news agency.

Firefighters told Tass that there are many unregistered homes for the elderly in the Russia.

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Dozens of firefighters were deployed and the blaze was extinguished early on Saturday.

The governor of the region said all similar facilities would now be inspected.

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Local fire service officials told Tass that many unregistered homes for the elderly were operating across Russia. As such, they were considered private property and not be subject to fire safety inspections.

This is not the first time the city has been hit by a fire tragedy. In 2018, 60 people, including 37 children, died in a leisure centre fire in Kemerovo.

Sun News/MR

people killed injured blaze Kemerovo Russia building fire

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