OREANDA-NEWS. December 7, 2009. President Medvedev instructed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to set up a government commission to determine the causes of the fire in a night club in Perm and provide assistance to victims and bereaved families.

Dmitry Medvedev had a telephone conversation with Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu and asked him to take all necessary measures to rescue and assist victims. Mr Medvedev also spoke with Prosecutor General Yury Chaika and instructed him to thoroughly investigate the accident.

In accordance with President Medvedev's instructions, Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev and Healthcare and Social Development Minister Tatyana Golikova flew to Perm to lead the on-site investigation into the incident and to organise assistance to the victims.

Governor of Perm Region Oleg Chirkunov reported to President Medvedev on measures taken to assist those wounded in the fire at the nightclub. Dmitry Medvedev instructed the Governor to keep monitoring the situation personally.

According to preliminary data, a fire and the resulting panic in a night club in Perm killed 103 people and injured over 130, many of them seriously.