Three Children Killed In Fire At Ukrainian Youth Camp

Ukrainian authorities say three children have been killed in a fire at a youth camp in Ukraine's Black Sea port city of Odesa.

Authorities said on September 16 that the fire swept through a two-story, wooden building shortly before midnight on September 15.

Police said that 42 children were inside the building at the time of the fire.

After extinguishing the fire, rescue workers found the remains of two children and said that a third child, a 12-year-old girl, was unaccounted for.

Regional police spokesman Ruslan Forostyak said in a Facebook post later on September 16 that the remains of the 12-year-old had been found.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman offered condolences and pledged that those responsible would be punished.

"It is a great tragedy when children die," Hroysman said in televised comments.

Authorities have opened a criminal case in connection with fire-safety violations, and police said the director of the children's camp has been detained.

Ukraine and other former Soviet states continue to be plagued by frequent deadly fires due to aging infrastructure and often slipshod fire-safety practices.

With reporting by AFP and Interfax