Fire at oil depot in Russia’s St Petersburg extinguished

A fire that broke out at an oil depot in St. Petersburg, Russia, has been successfully extinguished, according to the Russian Emergency Ministry. The incident garnered attention as it led to the deployment of numerous firefighters to the scene and caused dramatic scenes captured in videos on social media. The fire was initially reported at 10:59 am local time, with an 80 by 10-meter hangar (262 by 33 feet) fully engulfed in flames, as confirmed by Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The firefighting effort involved around 100 personnel, and the blaze consumed an area of approximately 800 square meters (8,600 square feet). Russian news outlet Fontanka identified the location as the Ruchi oil depot. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown at this time, and fortunately, no casualties have been reported thus far.
It’s worth noting that incidents involving critical infrastructure like oil depots have raised concerns in Russia due to previous instances where such facilities were targeted. These actions have been linked to Russia’s military involvement in Ukraine, a contentious issue that has drawn international attention and condemnation.
As investigations into the cause of this latest fire are likely to continue, authorities will remain vigilant in ensuring the safety and security of vital infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.