MOSCOW: Twenty-three Russian soldiers were crushed to death after their military barracks collapsed in Siberia, the latest disaster to hit a country known for shoddy construction work and lax safety standards.
An entire section of military barracks, including parts of the roof and walls, collapsed on Sunday evening just outside the Siberian city of Omsk as paratroopers were resting, the defence ministry said.
"As a result of the collapse, more than 40 servicemen were injured," Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said on Monday.
"Twenty three conscripts died, the others were hospitalised with various injuries."
Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said 19 servicemen had been hospitalised.
The barracks -- built in 1975 and renovated in 2013 -- belong to the 242nd training centre that prepares junior officers and armoured infantry vehicle drivers, among others.
President Vladimir Putin has been informed of the incident, which occurred in the village of Svetly just outside Omsk, some 2,200 kilometres (1,400 miles) east of Moscow, a Kremlin spokesman said.
"The president expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the accident at the Omsk training centre," the Kremlin said.
AFP
