Updated

Russia's Emergencies Ministry says eight firefighters have died while trying to extinguish a massive blaze at a plastics warehouse in Moscow.

Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov said in Friday's statement the firefighters were working on the roof of the warehouse building to contain the fire when it collapsed.

About 300 emergencies workers took part in combating the fire, which erupted Thursday and engulfed an area of up to 4,000 square meters (40,000 square feet). It took firefighters more than 14 hours to put it out.

The warehouse in eastern Moscow stored a wide range of plastic goods, including kitchenware and artificial flowers, and the blaze engulfed the area in acid fumes. Investigators were looking into possible causes of the fire.