Blaze engulfs Russian online retailer’s warehouse

MOSCOW: A massive fire spread through online retailer Wildberries’ warehouse in Russia on Saturday, the ministry of emergency situations said, without any reported casualties.

Fires are relatively common in Russia due to old infrastructure or non-compliance with safety standards.

“In total the fire spread through 70,000 square meters,” Igor Ulubikov, an official at the Russian Emergencies Ministry in Saint Petersburg where the fire took place, said on Telegram.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control but were still working on extinguishing it.

Footage published by the ministry showed huge clouds smoke billowing from destroyed, snowed-in buildings.

Almost 9 percent of Wildberries’ orders were shipped from the warehouse, state-run agency RIA Novosti said, citing online retail expert Anton Bestugin.

The company owned by Russia’s richest woman Tatyana Bakalchuk is one of the largest online marketplaces in the country and has enjoyed success across the former USSR.