Two Gyumri nursing home residents are said to have died from smoke inhalation yesterday evening when a shawl fell on an electric heater in the room that the women shared.

The two have been identified as Hranoush Avagyan and Araksya Ohanyan.

Nursing home director Nerses Margaryan says the building has central heating and that one of the victims had requested she be allowed the electric heater to make tea and coffee.