MOSCOW, Russia – Russian authorities say a fire broke out in the basement parking lot of a new building in Moscow, killing ten and leaving thirteen injured.
The Interior Ministry said the victims were construction workers who were living in the building at the time.
The Interfax news agency reports that Tashir Construction was responsible for the building's completion, which was due in June 2012. However, company spokeswoman Marina Gaze is quoted by the agency as saying the construction work was complete. She denied that the victims were company employees, and said the company would have to "clarify" who they were and why they were there.
The high death toll in Saturday's fire underscores lax safety standards that have become commonplace in a country where bribery is widespread and regulations rarely enforced.
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