Law enforcers in the southern Black Sea resort city of Odesa have detained a famous local businessman Vadym Chorny who owns the Tokyo Star Hotel, where nine guests died in a massive fire that broke out overnight Saturday, the prosecutor's office told UNIAN. The prosecutors are preparing to press charges of non-compliance with safety regulations which led to people's deaths. Pre-trial investigation is underway.
As UNIAN reported earlier, shortly after midnight on Aug 17, fire broke out in the Tokio Star hotel, which is located close to the city's railway station, offering 273 rooms. As a result of the fire, nine people were killed, 10 injured, seven saved from fire, and 136 evacuated unaffected.
Police launched an investigation into possible violations of fire safety requirements, while the State Bureau of Investigation is probing into a possible negligence by State Emergency Service employees. The State Emergency Service said that the scheduled fire safety check in the said hotel was set to be held in July, while their representative was denied access to the premises due to the change in ownership structure of the hotel. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Hroysman instructed to immediately begin fire safety checks in hotels and resorts. August 18 is declared day of mourning in Odesa.
