[Russia] - 7 Killed in Moscow Hotel Fire

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Seven individuals were eliminated and 11 hurt in a big fire that erupted at a hotel in central Moscow overnight, state media reported
Wednesday, pointing out emergency services.Emergency crews evacuated 200 individuals from the 16-story building and contained the blaze by
midnight, according to the TASS news agency.The domestic structure houses lots of ground-level services and the MKM Hotel on the 2nd, third
and fourth floors.The fire is believed to have started on the fifth floor at around 9:00 p.m
Moscow time.Law enforcement authorities opened a criminal case into safety guidelines infractions, charges which carry a maximum jail
sentence of 6 years.Russias Investigative Committee called arson as the cause of the fire.According to TASS, eyewitnesses allegedly saw a
house resident setting items on fire in the hallway.The deadly fire is the most recent in a string of similar occurrences in current
years.Fire security violations prevail in Russia due to corrupt practices of exchanging building permits for kickbacks.