Latvia in mourning for fire dead

By Laura Sheeter
BBC News, Riga

The fire broke out at night, so there was little time to flee

Latvia is holding a day of mourning for the 25 people who died in the country's worst fire since independence in 1991.

The fire last Friday destroyed a care home for the disabled.

The Latvian flag is flying at half-mast on all official buildings, and flags decorated with mourning ribbons are being flown across the country.

It is thought the blaze was started by either an electrical fault or a discarded cigarette. The standard of care is also under close scrutiny.

Latvians have been horrified by the details that have emerged about the fire in Alsunga, west of the capital Riga.

It broke out early last Friday morning, when most of the people living there were in bed.

Firefighters managed to rescue more than 60 people, but most of those living on the top floor were unable to escape. Local media reported that many of the nursing home's residents - who had mental disabilities - fought with their rescuers as they were afraid to leave the building.

Extremely cold temperatures of around minus 30C also made it harder to put out the fire, as water froze as it left the hoses. It was not extinguished until the following day - leaving the building an ice-covered shell.

Smoking ban call

At first reports suggested that an overloaded electrical circuit was the cause of the fire, as extra heaters were being used in the cold weather.

However, at an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Monday, the Latvian welfare minister said it was more likely that someone smoking in bed on the building's third floor was to blame.

Leading politicians, including Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis, called for an immediate ban on smoking in all the country's medical facilities.

However, questions are also being raised about the role played by the nursing home's staff after the home's director said that a first fire alarm was simply switched off by staff on duty - and it was not until a second alarm was raised that the fire was discovered.

And the director herself has now been suspended for apparently having allowed an illegal extension to be added to the building.

While Latvia mourns the fire's victims, there are increasing levels of concern about how the country is caring for some of the most vulnerable people in society.