Russia: Firefighters battle to find survivors from Omsk barracks

Firefighters continued to search for survivors at the Omsk military training centre, Monday, after it collapsed on Sunday killing at least 23 and injuring 19. Rescue workers battled to clear the debris in the hope of finding five servicemen who are still missing after the disaster. The four-storey building collapsed at 19.52 Moscow time (16.42 GMT), trapping all 38 people inside, confirmed the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation Igor Konashenkov earlier. By 00.00 Moscow time, 21 servicemen were taken from the ruins and to a local hospital, he added. Rescuers are still attempting to pull the remaining trapped servicemen from the rubble. Many of the people injured are said to be in critical conditions, with some being operated on. The Ministry of Defence says it is ensuring that all casualties are receiving the best possible medical care. According to local media, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu is informing Russian President Vladimir Putin about the progress every 30 minutes or so. An investigation into possible negligence has been launched.