The shopping center in Moscow caught on fire

RT reported that hundreds of rescue workers were deployed to extinguish the fire that raged at the Grand Setun Plaza shopping mall. The fire was then brought under control.

At least two injured people received medical treatment but were not life-threatening. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry announced that two people were taken to the hospital with injuries. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said authorities are preparing a free transport option around the scene before traffic resumes to normal.

According to local media, about 15-20 people were trapped inside the mall. Moscow’s operations coordination agency said 125 people had been rescued from the building.

Two people were injured after a fire broke out at the Grand Setun Plaza shopping center in Moscow, Russia on the morning of June 3. Photo: RT

A video from the scene showed thick smoke rising from the building’s facade. Telegram channel Baza reported the fire engulfed the first five floors of the mall, forcing those unable to escape to take refuge on the sixth and seventh floors as well as the roof.

Helicopters were deployed to drop water above the burning building, while hundreds of rescuers worked below.

The Interfax news agency quoted authorities as saying that the fire was likely caused by an electrical short, but did not rule out the possibility of vandalism.

The fire broke out in a shopping center southwest of Moscow at about 10 a.m. on June 3 (local time). The affected area is about 1,000 m . wide².