MINSK, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has sent a message to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to extend condolences over a deadly fire in south central Russia's Kemerovo city, the presidential press service said Monday.

"It is with deep pain and sorrow that Belarus has learned the news about the fire in the shopping mall in Kemerovo which claimed the lives of many people, including children," Lukashenko said in the message.

"We express sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured," he added.

A total of 64 people have been confirmed dead in a major fire that broke out at a shopping mall in Kemerovo city in southwestern Siberia one day ago, the Russian Investigative Committee said Monday.

Russian Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov said he expected 64 to be "the final figure of deaths".

However, the exact number of the missing is still unknown. Previous reports said 64 people were missing, including 41 children.