In Rostov-on-Don, emergency teams confirmed that every animal held at the city zoo has been safely evacuated. Reports from the fire department indicate a coordinated effort between zoo personnel and firefighters to relocate all creatures to secure areas as flames were addressed. The incident prompted a rapid response, and officials later stated that the zoo’s animals were accounted for and receiving care away from the affected zones.
Initial updates described a fire breaking out within the Rostov-on-Don Zoo, with subsequent statements confirming the containment of the flames. As containment progressed, structural teams began the process of evaluating and dismantling damaged sections of the building to ensure safety and to facilitate a thorough assessment by investigators. The immediate focus remained on protecting lives, both animal and human, and securing the site for further inspection.
Firefighters reported that the blaze was localized to a specific area covering several hundred square meters, allowing responders to concentrate resources and reduce exposure to nearby structures. The rapid containment helped prevent spread to other facilities within the zoo complex, contributing to a calmer scene for visitors and staff alike.
Eyewitness accounts describe a visible plume of smoke that could be seen from a considerable distance, highlighting the scale of the incident at its peak. Despite the smoke and the disruption, observers noted that visitor presence was light and there was no mass panic among those on site. The overall atmosphere remained orderly as safety protocols were enforced and access to affected zones was limited to authorized personnel only.
From another eyewitness perspective, the fire appears to have originated near the museum building within the zoo, with adjacent facilities such as cafes and a smaller animal housing area also impacted. Fire services conducted a careful sweep of the area to ensure no additional hotspots were present and to verify that all sections of the zoo could be inspected without compromised safety. Authorities emphasized that the priority was to safeguard life and prevent further damage while investigations proceed to determine the exact cause of the incident.