One person has been reported dead and three injured following an explosion at the Central Children`s World on Lubyanka, Moscow. Authorities state that the blast was caused by a malfunction in technical equipment, specifically a gas cylinder. No fire was reported in the building, and its structural integrity remains intact. All visitors and staff were safely evacuated.
An explosion, suspected to be from a gas cylinder, rocked the Central Children`s World on Lubyanka. The incident has tragically resulted in one confirmed death and three injuries, two of whom required hospitalization. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin indicated that the emergency was due to a technical equipment malfunction, with investigators now working to determine the precise cause. The Central Children`s World administration confirmed the blast occurred at a tenant`s premises, leading to the immediate evacuation of all visitors and staff. The shopping complex`s operations are currently suspended.
Media reports suggest the incident involved the depressurization of a gas cylinder on the third floor, near the «Shokoladnitsa» cafe. A fire briefly ignited, causing significant smoke, which prompted the evacuation of visitors outdoors. Dozens of emergency vehicles, including ambulances from the emergency medicine center and fire brigades, quickly arrived at the scene. Traffic on Lubyanka Square was restricted. The Ministry of Emergency Situations later confirmed that there were no signs of an ongoing fire within the Central Children`s World building.
Eyewitness Accounts
In the immediate aftermath, Business FM reached out to employees of neighboring stores, who shared their observations:
«The Children`s World was cordoned off,» one employee stated. «I just exited Lubyanka metro five minutes ago. Everything is taped off everywhere.»
— Were there many emergency vehicles, like fire trucks?
«A lot, a lot.»
— Are they planning to cordon off your area too?
«They might come in, close everyone down. For now, I`m alone in the store.»
— Are there many people outside?
«Very many.»
***
«The entire `Children`s World` is closed. I just asked a staff member there, and they told me there was a fire.»
— Is the road closed, or can you drive through?
«You can drive through, the road wasn`t closed, just taped off.»
— How many people are there, is it crowded?
«Yes, many, very many. I`m outside.»
— Are there any casualties, is anything known about that?
«They say someone burned their hand, their left hand was singed.»
A first-floor employee, present during the explosion, recounted her experience to Business FM:
«When the bang happened, all the security guards` radios started working,» she explained. «Security simply walked around the mall, without an official evacuation signal, telling everyone to leave. Even the metro passage felt the tremor – I don`t know if a helium cylinder can explode like that, but the bang was incredibly powerful.»
— What was it like when you went outside?
«Ambulances, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, police, red tape everywhere. People were being moved away from the mall, told not to approach, and there was, of course, a huge crowd.»
Employees of the Kidburg play center, located within the Central Children`s World, told RIA Novosti that they quickly covered 20 children with blankets and led them out via a fire escape after the explosion. Other mall staff reportedly tried to distract children to prevent panic, as many were present at the time.
RIA Novosti, citing emergency services, reported the incident involved a balloon gas cylinder. TV channel 360 stated that canine units were deployed to the scene to check for explosives. The Moscow Health Department released images showing internal damage to the store, including partially collapsed ceilings, shattered glass in shops, and damaged interior finishes.
Expert Analysis
Business FM discussed the damage footage with explosive expert Sergey Volzhin:
«A standard 100-liter, large, tall cylinder,» Volzhin described. «If it ruptured, it`s quite plausible. The gas inside is under high pressure, and if released, it would cause a volumetric rupture. I observed only cosmetic, finishing damage; there`s no harm to the building`s load-bearing structures. This strongly suggests a domestic-type explosion. The person injured was likely very close to the cylinder. The valve assembly is at the top, and it`s probable this was damaged, as the steel cylinder itself is designed for 2-3 times the operating pressure. Most likely, some unwise person tampered with this valve.»
Regarding the nature of the cylinder, he clarified, «Some reports say it was a gas cylinder, others a helium cylinder. If we consider the helium cylinder theory, it`s used exclusively for inflating balloons, as it`s an inert gas, lighter than air.»
Asked if the area was safe for people given no structural damage, Volzhin affirmed, «Yes, absolutely. You can see rescuers are even without masks or respirators, indicating good air circulation. Helium is lighter than air and dissipates quickly.»
Conversely, Alexey Zhuravlev, owner of «MAPA» balloon shops, told Business FM that for a helium cylinder to explode, a fire would first be required, with the cylinder exposed to flames for at least half an hour.
«Firstly, there needs to be a stand for the cylinder itself, as it weighs 70 kilograms,» Zhuravlev stated. «Cylinders are marked every five years, so a rupture is highly unlikely. They are made of very reliable metal; even Soviet-era cylinders are still in use and are checked for atmospheric pressure with each inflation. Helium itself is non-toxic, non-explosive, and non-flammable. It`s safe for people; children even inhale it to get that squeaky voice. Therefore, I believe the cause lies elsewhere. In 14 years across my nine stores, nothing like this has ever happened, unless someone deliberately started a fire. Only then could it heat up and potentially explode, but that would require a very long burn at extremely high temperatures.»
Responding to the explosive expert`s suggestion that tampering with the valve assembly could cause an explosion, Zhuravlev countered, «No, in most cases, it would just lead to a gas leak, meaning the cylinder would simply discharge. In 14 years, I`ve never encountered such incidents. However, when things like this happen, like a fire in a premises, it`s very convenient to blame the cylinder, which then leads to widespread inspections, bans, and so on. To heat this cylinder to the point of explosion, I imagine it would need to be in a fire for at least half an hour.»
Background of the Building
The site of the Central Children`s World was formerly home to the legendary «Detsky Mir» on Lubyanka. In 2008, the building`s owner, «Gals-Development,» closed it for a complete reconstruction due to its engineering and technical condition. The renovation was finished in 2015, transforming the original three-story atrium with its famous carousel into a seven-story space and increasing the retail area by over a quarter.
The store continues to be the largest retailer in the children`s goods segment in the country. Last year, the Central Children`s World was sold to the «Kievskaya Ploshchad» group of companies, a major commercial real estate developer. Following today`s incident, the Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case, confirming one fatality.
