2003 Peoples' Friendship University of Russia fire

The 2003 Peoples' Friendship University of Russia fire was a fire that occurred about 2:30 a.m. on November 24, in a hostel that stood among other dormitories on the campus of Peoples' Friendship University of Russia in Moscow, Russia.

2003 Peoples' Friendship University of Russia fire
DateNovember 24, 2003
Timeabout 2:30 a.m.
LocationMoscow, Russia
Deaths44
Non-fatal injuries182

Incident

Firstly, it was reported by police that at least 36 people died inside the hostel, three bodies were found outside, some died in hospital and another 170 were hospitalized.[1] It was reported that one exit was blocked and too many people were crammed into tiny rooms. A press secretary for the Mayor of Moscow claimed that firemen had trouble reaching the source of the blaze as hallways and rooms were blocked with bags and boxes of belongings.[2] Evacuated students told reporters that dozens of fire engines were jammed into a narrow access road blocked by parked cars, causing them to reach the fire late.[3] The fire was extinguished some three hours after the first reports of a fire.[4]

An evacuated student recalled being awoken to cries of "Fire, fire!" so they ran outside, and witnesses other residents jumping from windows, with dead and injured students laying on the snow.[2]

Casualties

44 people died in the fire[5]. The victims were from various countries such as China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Angola, Ivory Coast, Tahiti, Morocco, Kazakhstan, the Dominican Republic, Lebanon, Peru, Mexico, Malaysia, Mongolia, India, Nigeria, Tanzania and Sri Lanka, and Palestinian citizens.[1]

Cause

Education minister Vladimir Mikhailovich Filippov told reporters there were two possible causes of the tragedy, "arson or careless use of electrical appliances".[6] African and Asian students seemed to back the belief of arson, and placed blame on the incident on far-right groups which had threatened to raze the dormitories.[2]

References
  1. "BBC NEWS – Europe – Foreigners perish in Moscow blaze". Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  2. "Blaze at Russian foreign student hostel kills 36". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  3. Tribune, Chicago. "36 killed in fire at Moscow dormitory". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  4. Gunaratne, Ruwanthi Herat. "Moscow's Student Tragedy". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  5. Krainova, Natalya (2011-10-13). "Students Want Medvedev to See Dorms". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  6. http://www.guardian.co.uk

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