News Desk

At least eight people have died in a fire at a large office building near Moscow, according to regional Governor Andrey Vorobyov. Emergency officials informed Tass news agency that only one individual was rescued from the blaze at the Fryazino building, located about 25km northeast of the capital. Two of the victims had died after jumping from a window, while the other six were killed when the building’s interior collapsed. Video footage of the incident shows large amounts of smoke rising from the building.

The building’s purpose is unclear, as it previously housed the Platan Research Institute and defense industry according to the news agency and Ruselectronics, a state-owned electronics company, stated the building has been privately owned since the 1990s, though opposition media claimed Platan occupied it as recently as 2023.

Governor Vorobyov reported that the only survivor, a 34-year-old man, was hospitalized in serious condition, and two firefighters were treated for injuries. Local emergency services confirmed the man was the sole rescue from the blaze. Over 130 personnel and two helicopters were deployed to combat the fire, which was largely contained by 20:00 local time.

The cause of the fire still remains to be undetermined. An eyewitness had told Tass that the fire began on the sixth floor before spreading throughout the office building. In addition, Vorobyov noted that around 30 companies rented offices in the building, with the fate of two employees still uncertain. As of now, a criminal investigation has been launched to determine the fire’s cause.