Fire Kills One at St. Petersburg's Pravoberezhny Market

A massive fire tore through St. Petersburg's Pravoberezhny Market, one of the city's largest commercial hubs, on Wednesday evening, killing one person and injuring at least two others while triggering multiple explosions that forced hundreds to flee the scene.

The blaze erupted around 5 p.m. local time in the Nevsky district, rapidly consuming approximately 1,500 square meters of the open-air market, which spans five hectares and features stalls selling electronics, textiles, and other goods. Witnesses described hearing a series of blasts as flames engulfed the Soviet-era structure, built between 1979 and 1983, with thick black smoke billowing into the night sky and visible from across the northern district. Officials from Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry reported that the fire was fueled by highly flammable materials, including gas cylinders, chemical products, and propane tanks stored amid the dense inventory of vendors.

Emergency services responded swiftly, deploying 26 to 30 fire engines and more than 100 personnel to battle the inferno. Strong winds complicated containment efforts, and authorities shut down nearby roads to manage the chaos. Firefighters localized the...