Putin declares Wednesday day of national mourning for victims of Kemerovo mall fire

President Vladimir Putin of Russia has signed a decree on a declaration of national mourning on Wednesday in connection with the deadly fire in a shopping mall in the Siberian city
of Kemerovo, the Kremlin press service said on Tuesday.

On Sunday, the major fire broke out in the Zimnyaya Vishnya (“Winter Cherry”) shopping centre in Kemerovo.

Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov said that a total of 64 people had been killed in the tragic incident.

According to the press service, the national flags will fly at half-staff on Wednesday, while cultural facilities and broadcaster are recommended to cancel entertainment events and shows.

Earlier, Putin vowed that all those responsible for the tragic fire in the mall would be punished.

The Russian president arrived in Kemerovo, where he held an unscheduled meeting with an initiative group of citizens, who expressed their mistrust of the ongoing investigation into the causes of the fire.

“At the moment an investigation team of 100 people is working here. It is led by the head of the Investigative Committee.

“Do not even doubt, all those responsible [for the tragedy] will be punished,” Putin said.

The president noted that there was no point in doubting the official data on the number of casualties, warning against trusting unreliable information spread in social media.