Moscow  - A fire in a dilapidated wooden building in southern Russia killed 14 persons, the Interfax agency reported Sunday, citing public prosecution officials.

The fire occurred late Saturday in a village near the Volga River city of Astrakhan. Seven other persons were taken to hospital for treatment for injuries, the report said.

Around 50 residents were rescued and were given shelter in a school. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

The building, with faulty electrical wiring and inadequate fire protection equipment had been condemned by authorities, yet people continued to live in it. Authorities were planning another inspection of the building in March.

The accident follows on a fire in a nursing home in the semi- autonomous republic of Komi at the end of January which claimed 24 lives. dpa