Five people, including two children ages 3 and 7, died in a fire that engulfed an apartment building in Korolyov, Moscow Oblast, on the night of June 17th. The building, located on Korsakov Street, was reportedly scheduled for demolition, according to local residents.

The fire broke out around 4 AM on the top floor of the four-story building. Preliminary investigations suggest a woman resided in the apartment and was hosting her niece, her niece’s husband and child, and a friend with their child.

The building, constructed in 1959, had a history of issues, with residents complaining about its dilapidated condition and lack of maintenance. Locals reported previous fires in the building, citing concerns about faulty wiring and the overall state of disrepair.

Residents had been promised relocation, with the local administration stating back in the fall of 2023, that the area was subject to relocation under contract with the developer Rusinvest LLC, with a planned relocation date of 2025. However, the developer was declared bankrupt in 2023, leaving residents in limbo.

The building has been de-energized, and authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. The tragedy follows another recent fire in the Orekhovo-Zuyevo district, where five children from Tajikistan lost their lives.