MOSCOW, June 1 (RAPSI) – Russia’s commissioner for children rights Anna Kuznetsova has called a fire, which broke out today in a mall in Irkutsk and left eight children injured, a “criminal madness” and pushed for tough punishment for people responsible, the press-service of the ombudsman has told RAPSI.

The ombudsman reminded about the tragedy in Kemerovo where a fire in Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) mall left 60 people dead in March.

“At the time when strict safety inspections at the crowded places are being organized in many regions of Russia, people in Irkutsk exposed children to a grave danger… I ask parents to be even more vigilant,” Kuznetsova said.

The Investigative Committee stated that on June 1 a fire broke out in Irkutsk’s Komsomall shopping center. During a show for children that involved demonstration of chemical experiments there was a release of gas that hit the gas burner and temporarily enflamed causing burns to children sitting in the first row.

Eight children, aged 5 to 13, were hospitalized with their condition described as satisfactory.