A large number of Moscow commuters are exiting a metro station after a fire broke out on June 5, 2013.
A fire has broken out at a metro station in downtown Moscow, injuring dozens of people and leading to a mass evacuation of some 4,500 commuters.
The fire started at the Okhotny Ryad Metro station close to the Kremlin on Tuesday when a cable caught fire and caused heavy smoke in one of the underground tunnels.
Spokesman for Moscowâ„¢s emergency services Viktor Biryukov said more than 45 people were hurt and the number was expected to grow.
Four trains were stranded in the underground tunnels due to the incident at the station.
An official within the law enforcement department said the blaze was not caused by human factor; instead it was caused Å“most likely by a technical malfunction.”
The blaze caused damages both to the station and some of the tunnels, and disrupted the cityâ„¢s underground transportation during morning rush hour traffic.
Several nearby stations were forced to close and commuters were told to leave and find alternative transportation means to get to their destinations.
CAH/PR
This article originally appeared on: Press TV