A devastating fire in an office building near Moscow has resulted in the deaths of at least eight people, according to regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov. The blaze, which occurred in the town of Fryazino, approximately 25 kilometers northeast of the Russian capital, saw two individuals perish after jumping from the building to escape the flames, while six others died when the interior structure collapsed.
A fire broke out at the Platan Research Institute in Fryazino, near Moscow.
People were trapped inside, and some jumped out of windows because of the fire.
The blaze covered 4,000 square meters.#Fryazino #Moscow #Russia pic.twitter.com/fdOj1KnHe7
— Ulfh3dnar (@Ulfh3dnar_) June 24, 2024
Emergency services managed to rescue only one person from the fire. This individual, a 34-year-old man, was hospitalized in serious condition. Additionally, two firefighters sustained injuries while battling the blaze. Local authorities reported that the fire started on the sixth floor and rapidly spread, exacerbated by explosions from oxygen cylinders stored within the building.
Footage shared online depicted thick smoke and flames engulfing the upper floors of the eight-story complex. The building, which houses around 30 companies, includes tenants such as the Platan Research Institute, known for producing electronics. While Ruselectronics, Platan’s parent company, claimed the building had been privately owned since the 1990s, reports suggest Platan was operating there as recently as 2023.
State news agency Tass indicated that a malfunctioning electrical system caused the fire, which ultimately spread to cover about 5,000 square meters before being contained. Over 130 personnel and two helicopters were deployed to manage the blaze, which had been largely localized by 20:00 local time.
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