Army base fire kills five

13 Sep, 2009 23:32 / Updated 15 years ago

Five servicemen have been killed and seven injured in a fire at an army base in the central Russian city of Tambov. It is believed the soldiers died attempting to put out the blaze.

The injured are now in hospital, with two of them receiving treatment in the intensive care ward, according to reports.

Almost all of the city's fire brigades were called to the scene.

A criminal case has been launched following allegations of a breach of fire safety rules.

Security agencies say top secret documents were destroyed in the flames.