The number of victims of the fire on Nikitsky Boulevard in the center of Moscow has increased to four people, a source in emergency services told.

Axar.az reports citing TASS.

"Four people died in the fire on Nikitsky Boulevard," the agency’s source said.

Earlier it was reported that the fire killed two people. Three people were injured, 42 have been rescued. The fire covered the area of 2,000 square meters. The fire-fighting operation was complicated by the fact that the building has hardwood floors and many apartments had undergone redevelopment.

The fire in house 12 on Nikitsky Boulevard broke out at about 1:00 pm (Moscow time), the center of ignition was in an apartment on the fifth floor.

The fire covered the area of 2,000 square meters. The fire-fighting operation was complicated by the fact that the building has hardwood floors and many apartments had undergone redevelopment.

Fire-fighting

Firefighters fought the fire from 10 combat sites.

"They managed to prevent the spread of fire to an even larger area, as well as to avoid serious consequences," head of the Emergency Situations Ministry’s department for Moscow Ilya Denisov told reporters.

The fire-fighting operation involved 80 people, 25 pieces of equipment and five lifting mechanisms.

42 people were evacuated from the house, including eight children.

About house

House 12 on Nikitsky Boulevard was built in 1912 and belongs to the objects of cultural heritage. The house has more than 100 apartments.

The price of a four-room apartment in that house exceeds 90 million rubles ($1.4 mln). According to residents, some apartments in the house belong to actress Ingeborga Dapkunayte, artist Nikas Safronov, opera singer Lyubov Kazarnovskaya.