28 Mar 2018 18:39

Most casualties in Kemerovo fire to be identified by genetic analysis

NOVO-OGAREVO. March 28 (Interfax) - A genetic analysis is needed to identify most of the casualties in the Kemerovo shopping mall fire, Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova said.

"Forensic experts are working. Twenty-three casualties have been confidently identified now, 22 were buried today, three bodies are now being evacuated to Tomsk, one to Krasnoyarsk. The identification of one casualty is doubtful [...] The others cannot be visually identified, a very serious genetic examination has yet to be undertaken," Skvortsova said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday.

She reported on the measures being taken by her ministry to respond to the tragedy.

It has been decided that the Federal Forensic Examination Center will conduct the genetic analysis, she said.

"The work will take place around the clock and will take at least 21 days," Skvortsova said.