At least 20 people have died after a massive fire ripped through a Russian nursing home

A fire that ravaged a Russian nursing home on Christmas Eve reportedly left at least 20 people dead and six injured. The fire ravaged an unregistered facility in Siberia

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Russia: Firefighters tackle fire at Kemerovo nursing home

At least 20 people are believed to have been killed after a deadly fire in Russia engulfed an unregistered nursing home.

Two others were taken to hospital for treatment of serious injuries at the 'illegal' home in the Siberian town of Kemerovo.

Four other people were treated, but their injuries are not reported as life threatening.

An investigation is currently underway to examine the possibility of negligence, according to the Russian news agency Tass.

A pastor named Andrew Smirnov was being held for questioning. He would be the owner of the house.

A volunteer said: "We were sleeping. The house was on fire. We didn't understand where the source of the fire was coming from.

An investigation is underway (

Picture:

Ministry of Emergencies/News east2west)

"Someone shouted that there was a fire. Those who could fled the house. The others suffocated and burned."

Several fire crews were dispatched to the house to fight the blaze at the two-story wooden building.

Firefighters said: "At the site of the fire, rescuers continue to work on the rubble in conditions of low air temperature. According to the latest data, 20 people died."