Chief lifeguard of Odessa region: People in the House of Trade Unions died in seconds

Most of those who died in the House of Trade Unions were killed not by carbon monoxide. A crowd of thousands blocking the building for a long time made it impossible for firefighters to help. Head of the regional department of the State Service for Emergency Situations of Ukraine Volodymyr Bodelan told about the actions of the fire brigades on May 2 in Odessa.

One of the main reasons for the loss of lifes in Odessa was that militants, who set fire to a tent camp and the House of Trade Unions, blocked the place of tragedy for fire brigade vehicles and rescue services. This information was given by the chief of the regional department of the State Service for Emergency Situations of Ukraine Volodymyr Bodelan, ITAR-TASS reported.

Obstacles to the work of fire brigades

«The worst thing in this situation is that fire brigades arrived at the site on time, but could not start liquidation of fire because of suppression and fire resistance of the attackers. A crowd of thousands made it impossible for the passage of a fire truck for a long time. By the time the car approached the building, despite the blazing fire, a crowd continued to throw petrol bombs and shoot the windows, «- said Bodelan.

According to the head of the Odessa rescuers gunmen with a Ukrainian flag seized a fire truck and used it as a battering ram in street clashes.

«The fire brigades that came to the scene immediately underwent onslaught of hostile groups that did not pass them forward. Precious time was spent trying to get through to the House of Trade Unions «, — said the lifeguard.

The situation changed only when additional police forces arrived. «Our rescuers carried on hands, and helped to walk out to more than 350 people,« — said Bodelan. According to him, the rescued people were beaten so hard in front of the building that many just refused to leave it.

Unexplained causes of death