Fire in Lobnya Textiles Store Claims Two Lives and Wounds Several
A deadly fire swept through a textile and knitwear shop in Lobnya, a town near Moscow, causing multiple casualties and extensive damage to a nearby shopping area. Local residents described how quickly the flames spread and overwhelmed the building, forcing swift evacuations by staff and customers alike.
Witnesses report that the blaze rapidly engulfed the left side of the structure, with responders arriving after a ten minute delay. The initial reports indicated that the fire began in a knitwear and textile store, quickly escalating to involve surrounding shops and facilities within the same shopping center on Koltsevaya Street, which hosts a supermarket, a driving school, a workshop, and various other businesses.
Two people died in the incident, including a front desk worker at a studio and an employee of the driving school. Two additional individuals sustained injuries, according to early information from emergency services and local accounts. Onlookers described a tense scene as flames roared and smoke filled the area, while police and rescue teams cordoned off the vicinity and conducted an orderly evacuation of people from nearby establishments.
The authorities confirmed that the fire originated within the shopping complex and spread through adjacent rooms and corridors. Firefighting teams arrived on the scene and began extinguishing efforts, deploying hoses after a short delay and working to prevent further spread as wind conditions shifted. Fire crews conducted a thorough interior search to locate anyone who might be trapped inside and coordinated with medical responders to treat the injured at the site or transport them to hospitals as needed.
The tragedy has left family members and colleagues in shock, with many expressing sorrow for the workers and customers who were affected. Eyewitnesses noted that the area around Koltsevaya Street is busy by day with a mix of retail outlets and service providers, making the incident particularly impactful for this community. Police and emergency teams continued their investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire and to assess any safety lapses that may have contributed to the blaze. Local officials urged residents to avoid the area while responders conducted their operations and to report any information that could help the ongoing inquiry.