At least 19 people were killed in a conflagration in Kyzyl, the capital of the Siberian Republic of Tyva, in the overnight to Wednesday, the Itar-Tass news agency reported on Wednesday.

Viktor Beltsov, the adviser of the Russian minister for emergency situations, told Itar-Tass, the strong fire took place in a two-storey hostel in the capital city.

A total of 129 to 136 people were registered in the hostel, said the officer on duty at the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations.

Fourteen dead bodies were found as rescuers cleared the debris, as well as a large number of body fragments, Beltsov said. The death toll may rise as the clearing of the debris will continue, he added.

The emergencies ministry has set up a special commission to look into the fire. The commission includes officials from the ministry' s Siberian center and its state fire-prevention service, Itar-Tass cited Beltsov as reporting.

It was found out that the fire was caused by short circuit, the report said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2004)