MOSCOW: A fire that broke out early on Tuesday in a retirement home in the Russian region of Bashkortostan in the Urals mountains has killed 11 people, Russia's emergencies ministry said on Tuesday.

The fire was reported at about 3 a.m. local time (2200 GMT Monday) in the village of Ishbuldino, it said in a statement, and was put out three hours later.

"Four people evacuated (the site) on their own before the arrival of firefighters," the ministry said.

Russia's investigative committee said it has launched a probe into the incident