Video: Huge fire tears through St Petersburg market; explosions reported, 1 killed

New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 11, 2025 05:50 IST

A massive fire ripped through one of St. Petersburg’s largest markets 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 described hearing several blasts as the fire raced across the market in a matter of seconds, fueled by what officials later called "highly flammable materials" stored inside.

Videos posted on social media showed towering flames and dense smoke pouring into the night sky as nearly 100 firefighters and 26 units of equipment battled the blaze. A mobile chemical and radiometric laboratory was deployed to test air quality and check for harmful substances in the surrounding area.

The Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case on charges of providing services that fail to meet safety requirements, as questions grow over why the market’s fire alarm system did not activate.

The Nevsky market is one of the largest commercial hubs in St. Petersburg, a major center of daily trade that draws thousands of shoppers. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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