05.06 Central Moscow Subway Station Closed Due to Fire
MOSCOW, June 5 (RIA Novosti) Thousands of passengers had to be evacuated and dozens needed medical help after a fire broke out on the subway in downtown Moscow during the morning rush-hour on Wednesday, throwing the system into chaos, transport officials said.
According to the Moscow emergencies service, the fire broke out in a tunnel between Biblioteka Imeni Lenina and Okhotny Ryad, two stations on the Moscow Metros oldest Sokolnicheskaya line which runs through the city center close to the Kremlin. A total of six stations on the line have been closed.
Thousands of people were evacuated from the stations because of dense smoke from the fire, which started in electrical cables. Some 47 people, including a six-year-old child, sought medical assistance. At least seven were hospitalized, according to the Emergencies Situation Ministry.
A power cable caught fire, an evacuation is underway, an emergency service source told RIA Novosti.
