A massive fire ripped through one of St. Petersburg’s largest markets in Russia on Wednesday evening, killing one person and injuring another as explosions sent crowds running and thick black smoke rose over the Nevsky district.
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry said the blaze tore through roughly 1,500 square meters of the Pravoberezhny market, destroying most of the building before firefighters could bring it under control.
According to local media, the body of a man was found under the debris. Another man was taken to hospital with fractures in both legs, while separate reports said a 52-year-old woman suffered carbon monoxide poisoning as she fled the scene.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple explosions as the fire swept through the market within seconds, fueled by what officials later described as “highly flammable materials" stored on the premises.
According to European outlet Nexta, a criminal case has been opened. The charges relate to providing services that do not meet safety requirements, as stated by the Investigative Committee of Russia in St. Petersburg.
The Nevsky Market, one of St. Petersburg’s largest commercial hubs, attracts thousands of daily shoppers. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
