UN chief condoles death of 64 people in Russian mall fire

UN chief has expressed his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the 64 victims who were killed in a major fire at a busy shopping mall packed with children and their parents in Russia's Kemerovo city.

The fire at the Winter Cherry mall in Kemerovo, about 3,000 kilometres east of Moscow, was doused yesterday.

Russian television showed images of thick black smoke billowing out of the roof of the shopping centre.

Emergency services minister Vladimir Puchkov said on Russian television: "We have recorded that unfortunately as a result of the accident 64 people died."