A large fire broke out at the Giant shopping center in Kaliningrad, Russia, impacting three floors and prompting evacuations on November 26.
Fire Breaks Out at Kaliningrad Shopping Center
A fire engulfed three floors of the Giant shopping center in Kaliningrad. One employee broke a leg while evacuating, and a customer was diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning. No fatalities have been reported.
The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported the fire covered an area of 1,500 square meters. The fire spread from the building’s facade to parked cars.
Source of Ignition Under Investigation
According to the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Roman Emelyanov, the source of the ignition was located on the building’s facade near the entrance, confirmed by eyewitness footage.
Possible Car Fire as Origin Point
RT reported that employees first noticed a burning car parked near the shopping center, with flames then spreading to the building’s facade. A possible short circuit in the car, combined with strong winds, may have caused the fire, according to RT’s source.
Witnesses cited by the Telegram channel Shot also stated the fire began with a car parked near the main entrance.
Evacuation and Fire Suppression Efforts
All 140 people were evacuated from the Lumen Film cinema located within the shopping center. Some customers evacuated through toilet windows.
Fire suppression efforts are hampered by flammable materials inside the shopping center, which includes shops, a supermarket, a cinema, a food court, and an entertainment area, with parking available on-site and in the basement.
Previous Incident at the Same Location
The Giant shopping center has been operating since 1994. A previous fire occurred at the same location in 2016, consuming approximately 150 square meters, but the cause was not disclosed.
