According to Russian emergencies ministry, the fire was reported at about 3 a.m. (2200 GMT Monday) in the village of Ishbuldino, and was put out three hours later.

The Ministry added that four people, including a staff member and three residents, had evacuated the building before the firefighters arrived.

The dead were elderly people who had mobility problems and could not be quickly evacuated from the burning nursing home.

Initial reports blamed “careless handling of fire” as the cause for the fire that burned through the private nursing home.

A full investigation is currently underway to establish the full circumstances of the incident, local reports said.