A massive fire tore through the historic Pravoberezhnny Market, one of St. Petersburg's largest commercial hubs, on Wednesday evening, claiming at least one life and injuring two others while forcing the evacuation of around 100 people. The blaze, which engulfed approximately 1,500 square meters of the Soviet-era complex in the Nevsky district, erupted around 6 p.m. local time, sending thick black smoke billowing into the night sky and triggering multiple explosions likely caused by gas canisters or electrical faults.

Video footage from the scene captured flames erupting through the roof of the modernist structure, originally built between 1979 and 1983 as the Nevsky Collective Farm Market and spanning 25 by 100 meters. Over 30 fire engines and hundreds of firefighters battled the inferno for hours, with witnesses reporting panic as blasts echoed across the crowded area, a daily hub for thousands of shoppers. One victim reportedly jumped from the building to escape the flames, contributing to the casualties.

Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the fire was brought under control late Wednesday, though significant damage was inflicted on the market's indoor sections. Nevsky district officials have launched a criminal probe into the incident's origins, focusing on potential safety violations such as inadequate fire suppression systems or electrical wiring failures in the aging facility. Preliminary reports suggest the blaze may have started in a storage area, but a full investigation is underway.

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The tragedy has renewed scrutiny over fire safety in Russia's aging Soviet infrastructure, particularly in high-traffic public spaces like markets, where rapid urbanization has strained maintenance efforts. Local authorities are providing support to affected vendors and evacuees, while social media videos of the dramatic blaze continue to circulate widely, highlighting the swift response that prevented further loss of life.

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