The deadly night club in Perm was meant for 50 people, not over 200, and that is the cause of the high death toll, claimed Perm regional governor Oleg Chirkunov on Tuesday.

“People were locked in a trap because after illegal reconstruction of the building, the ways for escape were locked,” Chirkunov told Izvestia newspaper.

Friday's devastating club fire is thought to have been triggered by the use of fireworks inside the venue, but the investigation is ongoing.

The managers of the nightclub and the owner of the company which organized the fireworks are among four people who have been charged over the blaze.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has demanded a full investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the horrendous fire and added that negligence has become a national threat in Russia.

“Negligence is causing a huge number of emergencies – road accidents, fires," President Medvedev said, "The recent tragedy in Perm is outrageous. We need a thorough investigation to understand how authorities should react to this situation. How can we prevent this sort of thing? Only by prosecuting everyone responsible. Not only by fining them, but also in criminal court.”

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visited the site of the tragedy to lay flowers at an impromptu memorial.

During an emergency meeting, he condemned the lack of action by state and local officials in enforcing fire safety regulations, and accused the club's management of negligence.

“The tragic event in Perm, in a violent manner, showed us that our fire safety measures are far from effective,” the Prime Minister said, “I still do not understand, how could one use fireworks indoors, when it’s written in Russian – Do not use indoors.”

Russia's Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu has dismissed a chief fire inspector and six officials in the Perm region.

“It is clear that they can no longer do their job properly,” he said.

The host of the show at the club that night was the first to alert partygoers to the fire, but he says the crowd did not respond immediately.

“I didn’t shout, didn’t fuel panic. I couldn’t,” said Vlad Konopatkin, “But the people failed to grasp what was happening. They were sitting there thinking it was part of the show. The head of the fireworks company should have raised fire safety issues, demanding the right papers, or have refused to work there.”

Memorial services have been held throughout the country and funeral services in every one of Perm's churches.

“I lost my best friend,” said Anna Gamezinova, “She was always so cheerful, so joyous! We were due to go together that night, but I couldn't. I texted her several times that evening without even knowing she was dead. She's always been saying that fate is fate and thought that everybody had his or her own time.”

The tragedy has both stunned the large city and united its people. Since the fire, the scene of the tragedy has become a magnet for people paying their respects.

“Shared joy doubles,” says a local priest Andrey Sapsayev, “Shared grief is halved grief. We have to support each other as this is our common sorrow.”

While the somber process continues, the frozen ground near the Lame Horse nightclub continues to be carpeted with flowers, candles and victims' photos.