
Audio By Carbonatix
A huge fire has ripped through a major shopping complex on the edge of Moscow killing at least one person, Russia's Emergencies Ministry has said.
Video of the blaze showed explosions at the massive Mega Khimki mall.
Arson is being investigated as a possible cause of the fire, but an electrical fault is thought to be a more likely trigger.
The centre had housed major Western retail outlets, until they pulled out after February's invasion of Ukraine.
The fire spread across the roof of the OBI superstore at the complex early on Thursday morning, and at one point covered 18,000 sq m (194,000 sq ft).
By around 08:30 Moscow time (05:30 GMT) firefighters quoted by Russian media said it had been contained to an area of 7,000 sq m.
Two hours later, an Emergencies Ministry official said what he described as the "open fire" had been put out.
At least one explosion at OBI, which sells home and garden improvement wares, caused the structure to start collapsing, firefighters said.
The blasts are thought to have been caused by exploding aerosols and paint tins.
Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case into the incident. Losses from the fire have been estimated at $320m-$480m (£261m-£390m).
The German hardware chain OBI no longer owns the store, having sold all its Russian outlets - including 27 superstores - over the summer.
A 60% stake was bought by Russian-born German-Israeli businessman Josef Liokumovich for just $10 (£8).
Latest Stories
-
Access Bank partners with Birmingham City University to champion green financing for SMEs
5 minutes -
Flooding in Ghana: Are we paying the price for policy misjudgement?
11 minutes -
What South Africa’s June 30 deadline reveals about state authority and African integration
29 minutes -
Luv FM thrill football fans with Black Stars watch party at Sora Sky Bar
31 minutes -
2026 World Cup: Sports Ministry’s ticket assistance scheme ends as fans now need to buy own tickets for knockout stages
49 minutes -
GSTEP 2026 exhibition and awards ceremony set to celebrate Ghana’s next generation of innovators
1 hour -
Ghana received record 593.2mm of rain in June, highest monthly rainfall in history – Muntaka
1 hour -
Monday’s rainfall daily fourth highest since 1995 – Interior Minister
1 hour -
25 communities, 18 assemblies affected by floods—Interior Minister
1 hour -
Residents displaced as floods submerge homes in Olebu Ablekuma
1 hour -
Gabby Otchere-Darko warns South Africa risks becoming ‘continental outlier’ over anti-migrant crackdown
1 hour -
Heavy rains: 58 houses collapsed, 18 people died in Cape Coast – Muntaka
2 hours -
48 Engineers Regiment to clear drains, support flood recovery effort – Interior Minister
2 hours -
Over 60 communities hit by floods in Volta Region; over 1,200 displaced in Western North – Interior Minister
2 hours -
TotalEnergies Marketing Ghana PLC holds landmark 50th AGM, reaffirms commitment to shareholders value
2 hours