World leaders express condolences after Siberian shopping mall tragedy

MOSCOW, March 26. /TASS/. World leaders have expressed their condolences after the fire at a shopping mall in the Siberian city of Kemerovo killed more than 60 people on Sunday. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic sent a telegram with condolences over the tragedy in Kemerovo and an offer to provide assistance to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Please accept my sincere condolences over the tragedy in Kemerovo where the awful fire claimed many lives. We were deeply shocked that many children were among those dead. Serbia, as a small country but a big friend, may provide any kind of assistance, we are ready to do what we can," the telegram said. Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev sent a telegram to Putin on Monday, saying he was very saddened to hear the news about the tragedy. "On behalf of the people of Kazakhstan and me personally I want to convey the words of condolences and sympathy to the relatives and friends of those dead. I wish a speedy recovery to all those injured and wish them to return to their families." The leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Armenia, Sooronbay Jeenbekov, Ilkham Aliyev, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Serzh Sargsyan, also offered condolences to the Russian president over the deadly fire. Moldovan President Igor Dodon sent a telegram to Putin saying he was deeply saddened. "The report about the death of children in this terrible tragedy is especially regrettable." Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying told TASS on Monday that the people and government of China extend their deepest condolences over numerous deaths in the shopping mall fire. Spokesperson for the US Embassy in Moscow Maria Olson also wrote on Twitter: "Terrible, terrible tragedy in Siberia. Our hearts go out to the victims and families." Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders also extended condolences over the tragedy on Twitter. "Very sad to hear the news of the deadly fire in #Kemerovo, #Russia. I express my sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims." The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir tweeted: "Terrible news from #Kemerovo. My deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victims of the fire of the shopping center." Earlier, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz expressed his condolences over the tragedy. "My condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the terrible fire in the shopping mall in Kemerovo," the Austrian chancellor wrote on his Twitter account. "It is tragic that so many children are dead or missing," Chancellor Kurz stated. "I wish a speedy recovery to those injured." Condolences also came from Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics and Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs. The fire at the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) shopping mall in central Kemerovo erupted on Sunday on the top floor of the four-storey building engulfing an area of some 1,500 square meters. According to the latest data, 64 people were killed, many of them children, and more than 40 others sought medical assistance. Russian Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov said the source of fire had not been established so far. Read more