Moscow -- At least 23 people were killed when a major blaze believed to be caused by a short circuit broke out in a psychiatric clinic in southwestern Russia, local civil defence forces said Sunday.
More than 20 others were taken to the hospital for poisoning from smoke inhalation or burns.
Photos from Russian state media showed flames coming out of the windows and roof of the clinic, which is located in Alferovka, some 500 kilometres south of Moscow.
The blaze broke out around 11 pm on Saturday and took four hours to extinguish, the Interfax news agency reported.
The fire spread through parts to the facility's external wall and completely destroyed the clinic's main building.
Rescue workers were able to save more than 50 people, including four staff members.
"The evacuation wasn't easy because almost 30 patients were bed-ridden and some had taken strong medication before going to bed," a rescue worker told state news agency TASS.
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