Massive fire engulfs major St. Petersburg market, killing one and injuring two | Watch

Massive fire breaks out in St. Petersburg market after multiple explosions

A massive fire tore through one of St. Petersburg’s largest  |markets on Wednesday evening, killing one person and injuring at least two others as explosions sent crowds fleeing and thick smoke billowed over the Nevsky district.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, the blaze broke out in a market building in the Nevsky district on Wednesday night, killing one person. The ministry said a highly flammable material inside the structure helped fuel a fast-moving inferno, and that “96 firefighters and 26 units of equipment” were deployed to contain the flames.

A man died in the fire at a market in St. Petersburg. The building was almost completely destroyed, and the fire alarm did not go off

The body of the deceased man was found under the debris at the burning Pravoberezhny market in St. Petersburg. Another man was taken to the… pic.twitter.com/rwD9nWA3yV — NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 10, 2025

Local reports said the fire began around 5 p.m. and spread rapidly across roughly 1,500 square meters, engulfing much of the two-storey Soviet-era complex. Witnesses described hearing “multiple” blasts as the flames intensified.

At least two people were injured, a 52-year-old woman who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and a man who jumped from the second floor to escape.

Videos circulating on social media showed towering flames and dense black smoke rising over the city, while emergency crews struggled against strong winds and closed nearby roads due to low visibility. Firefighters managed to localize the blaze by early evening, but extinguishing efforts continued for hours.

Russian media indicated that the entire market complex may have been consumed by the fire. Authorities said the cause of the blaze remains unclear, and investigators are examining whether any safety violations contributed to its rapid spread.

The Pravoberezhnny Market, formerly known as the Nevsky Collective Farm Market, was built between 1979 and 1983 and is noted for its Soviet modernist architecture. Despite its cultural significance, the complex has faced long-standing scrutiny over fire safety standards, including multiple inspections, one as recently as November 2024.

The market has also been the subject of regulatory disputes with city authorities. A formal probe has been launched to determine what triggered the fire.