Kh.Battulga, President of Mongolia has expressed his condolences to the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and the Russian people at the many lives lost in the inferno in the Kemerovo shopping mall.

‘I express my deepest condolences for the death of so many people, including children due to fire in the Kemerovo  shopping centre. On behalf of the people of Mongolia and on my own behalf, I ask you to convey my sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the deceased,’ wrote President Battulga in his letter.

Dozens of children are among more than 60 people confirmed to have perished when flames tore through a shopping mall in the West Siberian city. Russian emergency services said a team of 600 rescuers, who spent 17 hours fighting the flames, were still struggling to reach upper floors this morning. Six bodies have yet to be recovered and 41 children remain unaccounted for.