A fatal incident occurred as a massive fire erupted at a bustling market in a prominent city. The blaze, which ignited in St. Petersburg, Russia, prompted a response from 30 fire trucks to combat the flames at a market structure located in the Nevsky district. Amid the chaos, a man was seen leaping from a building to escape the inferno.
Eyewitnesses recounted hearing successive explosions, likely caused by gas canisters. The fire rapidly spread due to the presence of highly flammable materials within the building, consuming an area of nearly 1,500 square meters (16,146 square feet), as confirmed by the Russian Emergency Ministry.
Tragically, one fatality has been confirmed in connection with the incident. The Russian Emergency Ministry’s press office informed the state news agency Tass of the grim discovery, stating, “Unfortunately, one person was found dead during the firefighting process.”
The deceased individual was discovered amidst the rubble at the burning Pravoberezhny market, as reported by the Eastern European media outlet NEXTA. Local authorities highlighted that the fire containment efforts were complicated by strong winds and the vast expanse of the market.
The cause of the fire that occurred earlier in the day remains unknown. The Nevsky market stands as a pivotal commercial hub in the second-largest city in Russia, catering to a significant volume of trade and economic activities in the region.
Despite the market’s widespread usage by thousands of individuals daily, only two injuries have been documented thus far. The firefighting operations persist as firefighters strive to quell the flames and prevent further destruction at the market site.