Major fires engulf Russian resort and Moscow building, causing mass evacuations and injuries
2:55 AM EST, February 11, 2024
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the "Zhara Beach Resort", a hotel complex and nightclub, was consumed by the blaze, which spread over 8,608 square feet.
The firefighting operation saw involvement from over 100 firefighters and nearly 30 units of equipment.
The Ministry noted that all guests were safely evacuated before the emergency services arrived.
Local Telegram channels stated that the rapid spread of the fire may have resulted from the wooden construction of the building. The source of the fire is yet to be determined. Notably, a music festival was in progress when the fire broke out.
Major fire in Moscow
On Friday, a significant fire broke out on Tcherniakhovskogo Street in Moscow, engulfing the roof of a building. The blaze spread across over 43,056 square feet of the roof, causing more than 400 people to be evacuated from the building. This incident marked one of the largest fires in the Russian capital in recent weeks, with firefighting helicopters being called in for assistance.
Investigations revealed that a malfunction in the de-icing system, specifically a short circuit, caused the fire. The operation involved more than 130 firefighters, 41 pieces of equipment, and two Ka-32 helicopters from the Moscow Aviation Center.
