Shopping mall fire in Siberia kills 53

The death toll from a Siberian shopping mall fire has climbed to 53, including nine children, Russian officials announced Monday.

In addition, 16 people remain missing from the blaze, Svetlana Petrenko, the spokeswoman for Russia’s Investigative Committee, told reporters in Moscow.

According to firefighting officials, the fire in the city of Kemerovo started on the mall’s fourth and top floors and then consumed an area of about 1,600 square meters.

Twenty people were rescued from the building, while some 100 others were evacuated.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu offered condolences early Monday.

"Saddened by the news that many people lost their lives because of the fire in Russia's Kemerovo city," he tweeted. "I would like to offer condolences to the Russian people and state, as well as the victims' families."

Russia’s Investigative Committee has opened two criminal cases over the blaze: one on fire safety rules violations, and another on death by negligence.

Vladimir Puchkov, the minister of emergency situations, and Veronica Skvortsova, the health minister, have arrived in Kemerovo to organize assistance to the fire’s victims and their families.

People are bringing flowers and candles in memory of the victims and in solidarity with their relatives.

A day of mourning is expected to be declared in Kemerovo.