A massive fire at a construction site in northern Moscow has resulted in at least seven deaths, as reported by Russian emergency services and confirmed by Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
The blaze erupted early Tuesday morning in temporary residential modules housing construction workers, highlighting ongoing safety concerns in the city’s booming development sector.
The incident occurred at a high-rise building under construction on 2nd Ambulatorny Proyezd in the Aeroport district.
Initial investigations point to an electrical short circuit in a switchboard within the third-floor worker accommodations as the likely cause.
Flames rapidly spread across approximately 1,400 square metres, engulfing the second and third floors where up to 200 workers may have been present.
Firefighters battled dense smoke and extreme heat for nearly five hours, deploying over 200 emergency personnel and 65 vehicles to contain the inferno, which was fully extinguished by around 2 p.m.
Emergency responders rescued 31 workers, with 12 to 13 others sustaining injuries requiring medical attention. Some survivors described how thick smoke filled the structure within moments, forcing many to flee amid chaos.
The site is part of the Alcon DC Nord technopark project by the Alcon Group, built on the former Izolyator Plant grounds and slated for completion as a data centre by summer 2026.
In response to the incident, Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a criminal probe into potential violations of construction safety regulations, focusing on negligence that may have contributed to the fatalities.
Prosecutors are examining whether breaches in fire safety protocols or inadequate accommodations played a role.
This tragedy underscores a troubling rise in construction accidents in Moscow.
Data from the Moscow construction workers’ union reveals 23 deaths in 2021, escalating to 62 fatalities and 98 serious injuries in 2025, with 23 more deaths reported since early 2026.
Labour unions attribute most incidents to lapses in workplace safety and labour protections.
Moscow Mayor Sobyanin expressed condolences on Telegram, vowing support for victims’ families and a thorough investigation.
The event marks one of the deadliest construction site fires in the city in recent years, prompting calls for stricter oversight amid Russia’s urban expansion.
