Compensation Ruled Out In Russia Nursing-Home Fire

A priest blesses the coffins of people who died in the retirement home fire (epa) March 22, 2007 -- Authorities in Russia's Krasnodar Krai say they do not intend to pay compensation to the families of those killed in a devastating fire at a nursing home.

The March 20 blaze in the village of Kamyshevatskaya killed 62 people, most of them elderly residents.

Legislation in Krasnodar Krai entitles families of people killed in "emergency situations" to financial compensation. But regional authorities say the nursing home fire is a special case because the victims’ families placed their relatives under state care.

Authorities say they will only pay compensation to the son of the sole staff member killed.

Emergency officials blame negligence and multiple safety violations for the high death toll.

(Interfax)