“Forty people managed to leave the building on their own and five more were rescued by firefighters,” the source said.
The blaze broke out on the second floor of the building and has spread to 50 square meters, the source added.
Around 1 p.m. the fire alert was raised to the highest, fifth, level as the flames had spread to the third, fourth and fifth floors of the five-story-building, and reached the roof.
Earlier in the day officials said that clouds of smoke were seen coming from one of the Defense Ministry’s service buildings at 19, Znamenka Street.
They added that the fire could have been caused by a short circuit.
