Seven people died in a fire at a hotel building in eastern Moscow, according to a report from RIA Novosti citing emergency services. The update came as authorities confirmed additional fatalities and clarified the overall casualty figure as more information surfaced about the incident.
One woman later died in hospital, bringing the confirmed death toll to seven. Among the deceased were two children, and authorities later noted that the total number of victims had risen to 11 based on ongoing assessments. Rescue teams continued to work at the site as investigators gathered details from witnesses and first responders.
The blaze originated in the hotel portion of a building on Mezhdunarodnaya Street, near Rimskaya metro station, with the fire first reported on February 21 at approximately 21:20 Moscow time. The flames were concentrated on the fifth floor of a 16-story structure, prompting rapid evacuation and emergency response efforts for guests and nearby residents.
During the response, Yuri Tkachenko, the acting head of the Moscow Emergencies Ministry, and his driver were involved in a road incident en route to the scene and were transported to a hospital for examination. The Moscow Emergencies Ministry later reported that the driver sustained no injuries and that Tkachenko did not suffer serious harm from the incident.
Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control and eventually extinguished the blaze. The hotel occupied the former dormitory space within the building, and the affected area was estimated at about 300 square meters, with extensive smoke and heat affecting nearby corridors and rooms. Authorities coordinated a large-scale evacuation of roughly 200 guests, and about 50 people were rescued from the fires and given assistance on site.
Initial reports from TASS suggested arson as a possible cause, based on eyewitness accounts indicating that someone began burning an object in a corridor. Local residents described a person who appeared increasingly intoxicated in the days preceding the incident, with one eyewitness remarking on a pattern of drinking. A resident who fled the building described the chaos and danger of the scene, noting that the moment the door was opened, flames surged into the corridor and residents had to scramble to safety, with firefighters helping families down from windows and ladders when needed.
Officials from the Moscow Main Investigative Committee opened a criminal case under Article 238 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which covers provision of services that do not meet security requirements, to examine the circumstances surrounding the fire and determine responsibility. Investigators are processing evidence and interviewing witnesses as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Earlier in February, a separate fire event occurred at a construction site within the Moscow City complex. Reports from TASS, citing emergency services, indicated a blaze on the fourth floor of the Moscow Tower, caused by construction materials catching fire. The area affected was also around 300 square meters, and officials later stated that the fire had been fully extinguished and that no injuries were reported, according to the Moscow city information outlet Moskva AGN.