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

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.
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.