Europe

8 Russian firefighters die in Moscow fire

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this photo provided by Emergency Situations Ministry press service, firefighters work at the scene of a large blaze at a plastic warehouse in Moscow, Russia, Friday Sept. 23, 2016, with about 300 firefighters attending the incident Emergencies Ministry said eight firemen died while tackling the blaze which started Thursday. ( Russian Emergency Ministry press service photo via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

In this photo provided by Emergency Situations Ministry press service firefighters prepare to extinguish a large blaze at a plastic warehouse, reportedly stored a wide range of plastic goods, including artificial flowers, early Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. The Emergencies Ministry said that eight firemen died while trying to extinguish the blaze. ( Russian Emergency Ministry press service photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this photo provided by Emergency Situations Ministry press service, a firefighter works from a platform high above a large blaze at a plastic warehouse in Moscow, Russia, Friday Sept. 23, 2016, with about 300 firefighters attending the incident. Emergencies Ministry said eight firemen died while tackling the blaze which started Thursday. ( Russian Emergency Ministry press service photo via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

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.