Criminal Case Opened After Fire at Tashkent’s Aviator Mall

Uzbekistan’s General Prosecutor’s Office has opened a criminal case over the fire at the Aviator shopping centre in Tashkent, the agency confirmed to Kursiv Uzbekistan.

The investigation is examining potential abuse of authority and breaches of fire safety regulations. The blaze broke out on January 31 on the second floor of the mall, which housed a children’s play area and a food court. According to Gazeta.uz, the fire alarm and suppression systems did not activate during the incident.

Around 200 rescuers and dozens of vehicles were involved in tackling the fire. Traffic near the mall was temporarily halted. After the fire was extinguished, rescuers discovered the body of a girl born in 2023 inside the complex.

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