Shopping Center Fire in Bashkortostan Kills 4

Sep. 22, 2026 A fire at a shopping center in Sterlitamak on Sept. 22, 2026. Russian Emergencies Ministry At least four people were killed in a fire that broke out at a shopping center in the city of Sterlitamak in Russia’s republic of Bashkortostan, emergency services told state news agencies on Tuesday afternoon. The Emergency Situations Ministry said the blaze erupted at the Solnechny shopping center at around noon local time and spread across 2,100 square meters (22,600 square feet) before firefighters contained it by 2 p.m. It said emergency crews rescued 17 people from the building, including a child. Sterlitamak is located 1,150 kilometers (715 miles) east of Moscow. Videos and photos shared online showed smoke and flames billowing from the four-story brick building. One video showed a person jumping from the building onto a crowd below to escape the fire. Regional health officials said four people were hospitalized for injuries, including three women and a 16-year-old girl. One of the women remains in critical condition, they added. A short circuit is suspected as the preliminary cause of the fire, sources told the news agency RIA Novosti. The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top investigative body, said it opened a criminal probe into negligence resulting in death Read more about: Bashkortostan , Accidents , Fires Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Candle Factory Explosion Injures 3 in Bashkortostan The blaze broke out around 8 a.m. local time at the Svecha plant in the city of Salavat, located around 1,200 kilometers southeast of Moscow. 1 Min read Petrochemical Plant Explosion in Russia’s Bashkortostan Injures 3 Emergency services said liquefied gas began burning after a “depressurization on an overhead gas pipeline.” 1 Min read 2 Arrested After Deadly Office Fire Near Moscow Six people were killed when the top floors of the former Platan Research Institute building caught fire in the Moscow region town of Fryazino. 1 Min read Russian Investigators Are Reopening the Dyatlov Pass Case. But What Is It? Nine hikers died in the mysterious Dyatlov Pass incident in 1959. 4 Min read