2nd LD: Death toll of psychiatric hospital fire in Russia climbs to 23

At least 23 people were killed in a deadly blaze at a psychiatric hospital in the southwestern Russian region of Voronezh, the Russian Emergency situations Ministry said Sunday.

Rescuers have found two more bodies at the debris after 19 dead bodies were recovered at the site earlier and another two died in a local hospital.

Over 70 people were inside the psychiatric hospital when the fire broke out late Saturday night, and 51 of them were evacuated from the 700 square meters building. Twenty one people with burns of various degree have been hospitalized.

All the dead were bedridden patients or patients who took strong drugs, the TASS news agency said, quoting an unnamed law enforcement official.

The fire has been put out, but the cause of it remains unknown. A preliminary investigation into the tragedy has been launched by Russia's Investigation Committee. Endi