Two Russian firefighters are the object of international outrage over a selfie photo in front of a shopping center fire that killed 17 people and injured 55 in Kazan.
The photo, which has received worldwide attention and criticism as official determine whether or not they should keep their jobs.
According to Metro, a United Kingdom web news site, Ilya Bykov, 30 and Rostislay Krylov, 28, were at the scene of the March 11 fire when they snapped a selfie, smiling in front of the flaming structure. Among the injured were two police officers and two other emergency workers.
The photo originally appeared on Russia’s equivalent of Facebook, a site called VKontakt, the UK website reported.
The image has since gone viral and social media and forums have been critical of the firefighters for taking the photo while people perished inside the building. Critics have said the firefighters should have been doing their jobs to save people.
Others have said that while there might not have been anything they could have done, they should have exhibited better judgment and not taken a photo at such a tragic scene.
The Regional Emergency Situations Department, the agency looking into the firefighters’ actions, said the two in the photo are “not characteristic of those who work hard every day, tirelessly saving lives."
The incident remains under investigation and not only could the firefighters lose their jobs, they could face criminal proceedings, according to news sources.
