A massive fire ripped through one of St. Petersburg’s largest markets in Russia late Wednesday evening, resulting in at least one fatality and leaving two others injured. The intense blaze quickly consumed an area estimated at 1,500 square metres in the city’s Nevsky district, sending towering flames and thick, black smoke high into the night sky.
The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry confirmed that the body of one person was found in the debris after firefighters battled the inferno for hours. Two other individuals were hospitalised: a 52-year-old woman for carbon monoxide poisoning and a man who suffered fractures after reportedly jumping from the second floor of the building to escape the rapid spread of the fire.
Witnesses at the scene reported hearing multiple explosions as the fire took hold of the market complex. Officials believe the presence of “highly flammable materials” stored within the premises contributed significantly to the blaze’s rapid and destructive spread. The entire market complex is feared to be a total loss.
Approximately 96 firefighters and 26 units of equipment were deployed to the site, working through the night to bring the conflagration under control. A mobile chemical and radiometric laboratory was also dispatched to the area to monitor air quality for any hazardous substances.
The incident has immediately raised questions about fire safety protocols. The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on charges related to providing services that fail to meet safety requirements, with particular scrutiny on reports that the market’s fire alarm system may have been inactive. The market, a major commercial hub, is a vital centre for daily trade, and the fire’s long-term economic impact on local vendors is expected to be severe. The cause of the devastating fire remains under investigation.