From Russia, CEOAFRICA.com gathered that thirty-seven people have died in a fire inferno at psychiatric hospital in north-western Russia.

Sources said the incident occurred in the village of Luka, in Novgorod region. The timber-built hospital housed some 60 people. One of the casualties includes a nurse who tried to guide patients to safety was among the dead, and 22 bodies have been recovered at the scene.

The fire started in the male ward and spread quickly through the single-storey. It was alleged that a patience smoking may have started it.

It was gathered that a court had ordered that the hospital should move to a purposed-built building next year, because the present building was deemed unsafe.