MOSCOW: Nine elderly people died and one was injured Monday when flames swept through a retirement home in the Tver region northwest of Moscow, a local official of the emergencies ministry said, quoted by Russian news agencies.

The fire broke out at 0105 GMT in the retirement home in the town of Vyshni Volochyok, the official said.

Firemen arrived rapidly at the scene and brought the blaze under control at 0130 GMT, she added.

First reports said the fire occurred in a room that was completely burnt out. Nine people were found asphyxiated while one person was hospitalized in serious condition, the official said.

More than 480 people were evacuated from the building, she said.

BDST: 0936 HRS, August 30, 2010