At least 13 dead in Kazakhstan hostel fire

Moscow [Russia], December 1: At least 13 people have died in a hostel fire in the Central Asian republic of Kazakhstan, according to authorities.The incident took place in the country's largest city, Almaty, which is located in the south of Kazakhstan.The state news agency Kazinform reported on Thursday that 13 people were killed.Fifty nine other residents were able to escape the fire and three of them were taken to hospital, it reported. An investigation has been launched.A local official from the city's civil defence department said that the hostel had been set up in the basement of a three-storey building without the necessary permission.He also said that there were no fire extinguishers in the building, which was officially registered as the premises of a business.Source: Qatar Tribune