The fire which killed 64 people, 41 of them children, at a leisure complex was caused by “criminal negligence”, President Vladimir Putin has said.

Investigators say the fire alarm was switched off and exits were blocked when the fire started on Sunday (March 25).

Interfax news agency reported that some 300 people gathered outside the local government headquarters demanding the dismissal of authorities.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but Russia’s Investigative Committee has spoken of “serious violations” at the Winter Cherry mall.

President Putin said, “people, children came to relax. We are talking about demography and are losing so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence, sloppiness.”