Four die in Moscow retirement home fire

Four people died and 10 were injured as a result of a fire at a retirement home in Moscow on Wednesday night, Russian state media reported.

The fire broke out after 9 p.m. local time (18:00 GMT) and is believed to have been caused by a short circuit in the basement boiler room.

Nearly 50 residents of the retirement home were evacuated from the burning building by firefighters, employees and neighbours.

One elderly woman and a retirement home employee died on the spot and two more people died in hospital, Russian state media reported.

Those injured include a firefighter who gave his mask to a resident at the home, deputy Moscow mayor Pyotr Biryukov said.

The fire was reportedly put out within an hour.

The evacuated residents have reportedly been relocated to other government residences in the city.