A fire in an office building near Moscow has resulted in at least eight fatalities, including two individuals who jumped from the structure to escape the flames. The incident occurred in Fryazino, approximately 15 miles northeast of the Russian capital. According to the state news agency Tass, the fire was triggered by a malfunctioning electrical system.

Thick smoke and reports of explosions were observed as the fire engulfed four of the building’s nine floors. The regional governor, Andrei Vorobyev, confirmed that oxygen tanks stored in the building exploded, causing some ceilings to collapse. Thirty different companies rented office space in the building, including the Platan Research Institute, which develops electronics and has been sanctioned by the US Treasury for various activities.

Following the blaze, only one person was rescued and taken to the hospital in serious condition. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire, with preliminary theories suggesting gas cylinders may have exploded within the building. Despite initial claims, Platan’s parent company, Ruselectronics, asserted that the building has been privately owned since the 1990s and that Platan was no longer a tenant.

This incident marks another in a series of high-profile fires in Russia since the onset of the Ukraine war.