**Russian PM Vladimir Putin has hit out at local officials for failing to enforce safety rules at a nightclub where scores of people died in a fire.**He said fire inspectors had warned the owners of the Lame Horse nightclub about safety rules a year ago, but had not checked if action had been taken.
A firework display inside the club triggered the blaze early on Saturday.
The death toll rose to 118 on Tuesday, after five victims died overnight. Another 30 are in critical condition.
The club’s co-owner and three others are in police custody, charged with manslaughter and breaching fire safety.
Visiting the site early on Tuesday, Mr Putin added a bouquet of roses to the assortment of flowers, candles and victims’ photos outside the club.
“I simply do not understand how fireworks can be used indoors, when it is written, clearly and in Russian, ‘Do not use indoors,’” he said.
“Such an attitude can be qualified as negligence, at least.”
Enforcing bribes
It is estimated there were more than 200 people inside the club when the fire broke out during a firework show to mark the club’s eighth anniversary.
Many of those who died were trapped in the crush as everyone fought to escape the smoke and flames through one narrow exit.
Churches around Perm, which is 1,400km (870 miles) east of the capital Moscow, have been holding the funerals of those killed.
The most seriously injured victims have been airlifted to specialist burns units at hospitals in Moscow, St Petersburg and other cities.
About 30 of the 120 in hospital remain in critical condition, and doctors said many had more than 50% burns and some were being kept alive by artificial respirators.
Correspondents say fire inspections in Russia are routinely used as a way to demand bribes rather than enforce safety rules.
Russian Emergencies Minister Sergei Shoigu has called for spot checks on all Russia’s nightclubs to be completed before the end of the year.