Putin visits scene of Kemerovo mall fire

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the Siberian city of Kemerovo early Tuesday to mourn the victims of the deadly fire there, local news reported.

Putin laid flowers at a memorial for the victims near the building of the Winter Cherry shopping center, where local residents have left flowers, stuffed toys and photographs of the dead, said TASS news agency.

The fire broke out Sunday afternoon at the shopping mall, killing 64 people, including 41 children, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, citing a list of victims made available to relatives. It is one of the deadliest fires in Russia in recent years.

Putin and Sergei Menyailo, the presidential envoy in the Siberian Federal District, also examined the facade of the burnt down building.

Russia's Kemerovo region is observing three days of mourning starting from Tuesday.

During the three-day period, the national flags of the Russian Federation and the flags of the region will be lowered on the whole territory of the Kemerovo region. All institutions, organizations and TV and radio companies are recommended to cancel recreational activities.

Xinhua and Reuters