Pravda street is famous for its newspaper complex consisting of a range of buildings where a number of Russian national newspapers have their offices. The oldest building where Komsomolskaya Pravda and some other newspapers (Parlamentskaya Gazeta, Tribuna, Sovetskaya Russia) were situated was erected in the 30s of the 20^th century. All the floor structures were made of wood. Because of that 50 fire engines could not stamp a fire for many hours after a short-circuit has happened at about half past 10 a.m.

All the newspaper archives including one of the biggest photo archives in Russia and office equipment have been burned. Today’s issue was published in a short version. But most of the editors hope that the newspapers sales will increase thanks to readers who want to know about the tragedy or out of curiosity. 

It is not yet clear where the newspapers will have their offices before the building is renovated or a new one will be built. The Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications offered a part of its office for the newsroom. Other Moscow newspapers have done the same.

My office is in the same newspaper complex but in another building – just within 20 meters from the site of the fire. All the day yesterday smother penetrated in every corner of the street but it did not hinder the journalists from the offices on fire to observe the fire fighting until the situation has become too dangerous: the roof  broke down.

In the evening the building looked like a big iceberg. Too much water and low temperature (-20 Celsius) produced a huge amount of icicles just everywhere on the building. There were only dark holes instead of numerous windows. A part of the Pravda street sank in water which immediately turned into ice. The neighboring houses were covered with frost.

We hope the situation will improve as soon as possible.