• Five killed in private sauna fire
• Investigation opened over safety violations

Five people died after a fire broke out in a private sauna in the city of Prokopyevsk in central Russia, local authorities said Saturday.

The incident occurred around 8:22 p.m. local time on Kubanskaya Street, according to a Russian news agency citing the regional Ministry of Emergency Situations.

The ministry said in a statement that the victims are believed to have been teenagers, and the initial area of the fire was about 70 square meters.

The Russian Investigative Committee announced that local investigators have opened a criminal case related to the provision of services that did not meet safety and public health standards.