MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The mass poisoning with bath essence in Irkutsk region is a terrible tragedy and the local authorities failed to prevent it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday at annual press conference.
"The thing happening in Irkutsk is a terrible tragedy. There are no words [to describe it]. And a horrible mess because the supervisory and other bodies that were supposed to keep an eye on this, had not prevented this tragedy," Putin said.
Earlier in the day, Irkutsk Region's Health Ministry spokeswoman Tatyana Lebedeva said that the number of people, who died as a result of consuming a bath essence containing alcohol in Russia's Siberian city of Irkutsk has increased up to 75.
