Christmas market in Lviv caught fire in the early afternoon on Dec. 22, the State Service of Ukraine for Emergencies in Lviv Oblast reported. At least four people were injured before the fire was extinguished.
The fire started in one of the stalls selling grilled food, and spread to two neighboring food stalls.
The authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, while some news outlets and local social media users suggested it could have been caused by improper use of a gas tank.
The Christmas market stands in the very center of Lviv, a city of 730,000 people 500 kilometers west of Kyiv, and a popular tourism destination for both Ukrainians and foreign guests.
The rescuers reported that their two units arrived to the scene at 1:26 p.m. and extinguished the fire within six minutes.
The rescuers of the State Service of Ukraine for Emergencies in Lviv Oblast extinguish the fire at the Christmas market on Svobody Avenue in Lviv on Dec. 22. (The State Service of Ukraine for Emergencies in Lviv Oblast)
The head of the press service of the State Service of Ukraine for Emergencies in Lviv Oblast Vitalii Turovtsev said that the place where the fire occurred is currently being investigated and the results will be announced later.
Turovtsev said that four people injured by fire have been taken to one of the hospitals in Lviv, however, their condition is unknown.
Rescuers extinguish the fire at the Christmas market in Lviv on Dec. 22. (YouTube/State Service of Ukraine for Emergencies in Lviv Oblast)
According to the police, only three persons sought medical help. The police said they were deciding whether to start criminal proceedings.
