people evacuated, as market outside Moscow erupts in flames

MOSCOW - 9 October 2017: A fire has broken out at a busy building supplies market just outside of Moscow to the north-west.

Plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the site, with around 55,000 square meters of the premises reportedly ablaze, Russia Today reported on Sunday.

The popular Sindika market has been on fire since Sunday afternoon.

Around 3,000 people have been evacuated from the site, emergency services reported.

At least one person was injured in the fire, the head of the Moscow Region emergency services, Sergey Poletykin, said. The man was hospitalized with smoke inhalation, the official added.

A large area to the north-west of Moscow has been covered in black smoke, with a number of residential complexes located nearby.

Three helicopters have been deployed to deal with the blaze, emergency services reported, adding that around 230 tons of water have been dropped by helicopters on the burning structures.

More than 1,200 shops are located on the premises of the construction market, which occupies around 130,000 square meters.