Day of mourning in Siberian region in honor of dead firefighters
13:10, 25 August 2009
MOSCOW. August 25. KAZINFORM Siberia's Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area on Tuesday will lower its flag to half mast in memory of those who died in a fire at a north Siberian oil depository, an administration spokesman said, Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
The fire at the Konda facility started on Saturday when lightening struck an oil reservoir containing 20,000 cubic meters of oil, then spread to two other reservoirs. The fire was eventually extinguished on Monday, leaving at least three firefighters dead and four others injured.
"By order of the regional head, Viktor Redikultsev, August 25 has been announced a day of mourning for those who died during the tragic accident...All flags will fly at half mast and all [cultural] events have been cancelled," the spokesman said, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.