Fire reported at Moscow business centre, at least two injured

A fire broke out at a business centre in western Moscow on Friday, RBC reports.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry reports that the fire covered an area of about 1,000 square metres. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at around 12:30 Moscow time that the fire had been extinguished. He added that two people had requested medical aid following the fire, their lives are not in danger.

Later, Russian Deputy Emergencies Minister Ilya Denisov stated that head of the ministry’s Moscow directorate Sergei Zheltov was hospitalised with a heart attack after the fire. Another emergency worker Maxim Seryogin was taken to hospital with symptoms of smoke inhalation, Baza Telegram channel reports.

A source of Russian news agency Interfax notes that up to 15 people may be trapped in the building. Kommersant newspaper writes, citing emergency services, that two people from the top floors of the building were rescued by emergency workers, and a total of 120 people were evacuated. Ladders are used to rescue people from the top floors, RBC notes. Russian Emergencies Minister Aleksandr Kurenko arrived on site.

TASS and Interfax report that the fire may have been caused by a short-circuit, while RIA Novosti suggests arson as a possible cause.