13 dead in fireworks factory blaze in Russia

The death toll from a fire at a fireworks manufacturing enterprise in the Yaroslavl region has risen to 13, the press service of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations said Monday in a statement, reported Xinhua.

"Thirteen people were killed in the blaze. A total of 15 people were present at the facility," it said.

The fire broke out at a fireworks factory in the village of Kubrinsk, near Pereslavl-Zalessky. Two buildings on the fireworks production site were ablaze, and the fire was contained.

More than 100 personnel and 40 pieces of equipment were deployed to extinguish the fire. Investigative authorities have opened a criminal case over violations of industrial safety requirements for hazardous production facilities.