MOSCOW: A devastating fire engulfed an eight-story former Russian electronics research institute near Moscow on Monday, killing at least eight people, including two who jumped from the building’s upper floors to escape the flames, according to state-run TASS news agency.
The fire broke out at the Platan Research Institute located in Fryazino, Moscow Region, Russia, unleashing billows of black smoke and fierce flames that consumed several floors of the building. Distressing footage from the scene captured the intensity of the blaze, with people seen trapped on the higher levels unable to flee.
Reports from Russian Telegram channels indicated that the fire originated on the fifth and sixth floors within the offices of the planning and design department. Platan is noted for its contributions to the radio-electronic defense industry, focusing on the development of electron-beam devices, semiconductor lasers, and liquid crystal displays, as per online sources.
Witnesses recounted harrowing scenes as people attempted desperate measures to escape the inferno. Videos circulating on social media platforms showed one man jumping from an upper floor, while another person, severely burned, fell from the building amidst chaotic efforts to rescue those trapped inside.
“The situation is extremely serious. We are doing everything possible to contain the fire and evacuate those who are still inside,” said a statement from local emergency services.
The Platan Research Institute, a prominent fixture in the Moscow Region’s scientific community, has been a center for advanced research and technological development in the field of electronics.
