The evacuation of people from the Wildberries warehouse complex in the Pushkinsky district of St. Petersburg proceeded under intense effort. This account comes from a Telegram channel and cites a marketplace employee who witnessed the incident firsthand.
The eyewitness estimated that roughly 1,200 individuals were inside the facility when the fire started. He noted that one of the warehouse doors, a route typically used for escape, remained closed during the incident.
According to the source, the closure appeared intentional. The employee suggested that management aimed to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings by keeping that exit sealed.
“People were directed toward a smaller door,” the eyewitness explained. Others who observed the scene reportedly confirmed seeing people affected by smoke or injuries as the event unfolded.
The informant attributed the incident to electrical faults. He claimed that a recently added mezzanine area housed cables that had been laid poorly, creating conditions conducive to a triggered blaze.
He also mentioned a noticeable burning odor that mornings before the event had lingered around the facility. When the alarm sounded, employees allegedly restrained themselves from reacting promptly, continuing their work for some time afterward.
On January 13, a fire affected Wildberries warehouses in the Pushkinsky district of St. Petersburg. Initial reports indicated the blaze extended across about 1,000 square meters, with later estimates suggesting the affected area grew to tens of thousands of square meters.
Data released by the Ministry of Emergencies of the Russian Federation indicated that firefighting teams managed to contain the blaze within a large portion of the site, resulting in no reported injuries. The ministry also stated that the fire had been localized to an area described as significant, yet controlled.
Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident, with investigators examining the scene and interviewing witnesses to determine the cause and assess any safety lapses that may have contributed to the event.