Russia Mourns Dead in Worst Fire in Recent History

MOSCOW, Dec. 7, 2009 — -- Flags flew at half-staff across Russia today, declared a national day of mourning by President Dmitry Medvedev in honor of the more than 100 people who died in a nightclub fire early Saturday morning in the city of Perm.

Four people were charged today in connection with the blaze, which was caused by fireworks. A fifth suspect, a co-owner of the Lame Horse club, where the incident occurred, has yet to be arrested because he was in the club at the time of the fire and has been hospitalized.

The death toll climbed to 113 today with the news that a 26-year-old woman died of her injuries. About 120 people are said to be in serious condition, while 100 have been flown to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Chelyabinsk for treatment, more than half of them are on respirators.

As Russia prepares to celebrate the New Year, the biggest holiday of the year, the country's emergency situations minister announced a ban on fireworks for mass gatherings until stricter laws can be drawn up. Nationwide fire inspections were also ordered for large venues.

Funerals continued today amid an outpouring of grief in the city of 1 million people. Sadness has quickly turned into rage as officials and citizens alike blasted lax fire regulations and the business of inspectors plying bribes out of owners who don't stay up to code.

"They have no brains and no shame," Medvedev said of the party's organizers. "They showed complete indifference to what was going on. I saw the reports, they even tried to flee. They need to be punished to the full extent."

The Lame Horse was celebrating its eighth anniversary Friday night when a fireworks display on stage ignited a suspended wicker ceiling. Amateur video shows a party in full swing when the master of ceremonies interrupts the show to tell the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, vacate the club, we are on fire."

With black smoke billowing, screams are heard as club goers panic and rush for the club's only exit. Scores were trampled and officials would later say that most died from smoke inhalation, burns and being crushed in the stampede for the door.