Russia: 4 dead in Siberia shopping mall fire

A major fire broke out in a Siberian shopping centre killing three children and a woman, Russia's Investigative Committee said on Sunday.  

The four were killed when the fire spread in the "Winter Cherry" shopping centre in Kemerovo, an industrial city in central Siberia. Authorities believe the fire began in one of the centre's cinema auditoriums. 

"Four deaths are currently known, including three children and a woman who at the time of the fire were in a playroom," the Investigative Committee said in a statement. 

Twenty-six people have been hospitalised, the investigative committee said.

Over 200 people were evacuated from the building, authorities said. 

Interfax news agency said the fire spread to across more than 1,000 square metres (10,760 feet).

(With inputs from AFP)