A thick black column of smoke billowed over the historic ExpoForum convention center in St. Petersburg on Friday afternoon, halting proceedings at Russia’s most prominent annual economic summit. Firefighters from the St. Petersburg Fire Department arrived within minutes, battling flames that erupted in a side corridor of the main exhibition hall. The blaze was contained within 45 minutes, but the damage forced the evacuation of over 500 delegates and staff, according to local emergency services.

No injuries were reported, and officials from Roscongress, the state-run organizer of the forum, later confirmed the cause as a suspected gas leak in an underground utility tunnel. Deputy Mayor Vladimir Knyazev told reporters the leak originated from a faulty valve in the building’s aging infrastructure, which had not been flagged during routine inspections this year. The forum, which draws over 15,000 attendees including heads of state and corporate leaders, was temporarily suspended, with sessions relocated to nearby venues.

The disruption cast a shadow over the forum’s opening day, which was expected to focus on Russia’s economic resilience amid Western sanctions. President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to deliver a keynote address on Saturday, and organizers scrambled to relocate high-profile sessions to the nearby Lenexpo exhibition center. A Roscongress spokesperson told reporters the incident would not affect the forum’s overall schedule, but admitted the fire raised fresh questions about the event’s infrastructure security.

Witnesses described panic as smoke filled the convention hall, with delegates fleeing toward emergency exits. Security footage later obtained by local media showed flames erupting from a maintenance hatch before firefighters arrived. The St. Petersburg prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident, citing potential violations of fire safety regulations. Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Dmitry Gudkov criticized the government for failing to modernize the forum’s infrastructure despite repeated warnings.

The incident follows a string of safety concerns at state-backed events in Russia. In 2023, a fire at a Moscow trade fair injured 12 people after faulty wiring sparked a blaze in an exhibition tent. Critics argue the government has prioritized event aesthetics over structural safety, particularly for high-profile forums designed to showcase Russia’s economic stability. Roscongress has not responded to requests for comment on long-term infrastructure upgrades.

As the forum resumes Saturday, the fire’s aftermath has sparked debate over Russia’s preparedness for large-scale international events. Analysts note that while the Kremlin has invested heavily in propaganda surrounding economic resilience, underlying infrastructure vulnerabilities remain unaddressed. The St. Petersburg prosecutor’s office has given officials 30 days to submit a report on the incident, including recommendations for future safety measures.

• 📊 The fire occurred during the forum’s most crowded day, maximizing potential impact
• 🔍 Investigators are examining whether the valve failure was an isolated incident or part of a systemic issue
• ⚠️ Opposition figures warn the incident could damage Russia’s international image amid ongoing sanctions

For now, delegates have returned to the Lenexpo center, where sessions are proceeding under heightened security. The fire’s immediate fallout has been contained, but the questions it raises about Russia’s event infrastructure may linger long after the smoke clears.