• UPDATED 05:59, 9 Dec 2022 – By Tim HanlonNews Reporter – The Mirror

Explosions were heard coming from a shopping mall in Russia, one of the biggest in Europe, with a massive fire breaking out that is covering 1,800 metres by 1,800 metres

A massive fire has broken out at a shopping centre in the north west of Moscow after reports of “explosions” were heard.

The blaze is believed to have started on the roof at the Mega Khimki retail centre with thick plumes of smoke seen billowing up into the sky.

And the roof of the shopping mall has now collapsed with no reports of injuries.

It started shortly before 6am local time with the fire service saying that it arrived at the scene 20 minutes later.

Social media footage from residents living nearby show the fire and what appear to be explosions.

There were sounds like explosions heard as the fire took hold at the shopping mall

The roof of the shopping mall has now collapsed in the fire.

It was not immediately clear if the fire was deliberately started or if there was a link to the war in Ukraine.

There have been recent suggestions that Moscow is now within range of repurposed Ukrainian drones which this week attacked two military airbases deep inside Russia, while there have also been sabotage attacks.

“Powerful explosions were heard at the scene,” reported Life news outlet.

An initial report by TASS official news agency said: “An explosion occurred in the OBI hypermarket at the Mega Khimki shopping mall, followed by a collapse.”

As the blaze spread further explosions were heard from the OBI retailer – a DIY giant – with aerosols and paints reportedly igniting in the inferno.

An account on a local online community stating: “What was the rumble near Mega? It was a bang at Mega, there’s fire. Oh f***, it was shaking as if it was an earthquake.”

The blaze pictured as it rippsed through the OBI store ( 

Image: Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Moscow Region)

“I woke up from the noise. My bed on the 8th floor was trembling.”

A local man said: “Everything started burning from the roof, I do not know exactly where the ignition came from.”

He said: “The fire developed very quickly.

“Literally five minutes later, the entire roof was already caught in flames.

“And after ten minutes everything developed rapidly, the lower floor was already ablaze.”

Moscow region’s emergencies ministry department had stated that the fire covered a 250 metres by 250 metres area before an emergency services source said it has spread to take over the whole shopping centre covering 1,800 metres by 1,800 metres.

The fire has spread to cover the whole of the shopping mall.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-huge-fire-shopping-centre-28690957