Russia: Person suspected of starting fire in Kostroma cafe arrested - UPDATED

A person suspected of starting a fire in a cafe in Kostroma, Russia, which killed 15 people, has been arrested, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement, Report informs, citing TASS.

The identity of the detained suspect has not been released.

10:50

Fifteen people have died as a result of the fire in the Poligon cafe in the Russian city of Kostroma, the local emergency service said in a statement, Report informs.

10:02

Thirteen people have died as a result of the fire in the Poligon cafe in the Russian city of Kostroma, the local emergency service said in a statement.

Report informs via TASS that, according to preliminary information, the fire occurred as a result of the use of pyrotechnics: "The fire started after the firecracker was released into the air."

Search is underway for the one who threw the firecracker.

09:47

The death toll from a fire at a nightclub in the Russian city of Kostroma has risen to 7, according to preliminary data, the Prosecutor's Office of the Kostroma region said on Saturday, Report informs, citing foreign media.

"According to preliminary data, there are 7 deaths," a spokesperson of the Prosecutor's Office said.

The fire erupted overnight at the "Poligon" nightclub and restaurant and spread over 3,500 square meters (37,670 square feet). According to the Russian emergencies ministry, 250 people were evacuated from the building.