Fire in Simferopol's Lotsman Shopping Center. First arrest made

By CrimeaNEWS On Июл 31, 2024

CrimeaPRESS reports:

The Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol has opened a criminal case on the fact of performing work that does not meet safety requirements intended for children (clause «b» of Part 2 of Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Yesterday in the afternoon, a fire broke out on the territory of the Lotsman shopping center, located on Sevastopolskaya Street in the city of Simferopol. The head of the Main Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol Vladimir Terentyev and the deputy head of the department Vasily Tsaplin promptly left for the scene. Based on the results of the procedural check, the chief investigator of the peninsula ordered the initiation of a criminal case.

It was established that on the afternoon of July 30, construction and repair work was carried out in violation of safety regulations on the territory of the children’s trampoline center, located on the third floor of the shopping center, using a grinding machine. Sparks from the device fell on flammable children’s foam cubes, which were not fenced. As a result of the fire, the fire engulfed 500 square meters of the territory, and the roof partially collapsed. About 130 people were evacuated from the smoke-filled premises. The fire was localized by the forces of the Ministry of Emergency Situations at 23:32, there were no fatalities or injuries— the Investigative Committee reported.

Today, an investigator detained the director of a trampoline center on suspicion of organizing and performing work intended for children that does not meet safety requirements.

All urgent investigative actions are being carried out. The circumstances of the evacuation of workers and visitors of the shopping mall in an emergency, the operation of the warning systems, and the availability of evacuation exits are also being established in detail.

The progress of the investigation of the criminal case has been placed under the personal control of the head of the Main Investigation Department, V.N. Terentyev.