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Fire in defense ministry’s building in Moscow localized

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MOSCOW, April 3. /TASS/. The fire has spread to all floors of the Russian Defense Ministry's building in Moscow, law enforcers told TASS on Sunday.

"The fire in the old five-storey building in Znamenka has spread to all the floors," the source said. "More than 30 fire and rescue teams are called to the site."

Earlier on Sunday, the ministry’s press service said smoke in the building of the Russian Defense Ministry in central Moscow was localized, the reason could be a short circuit in the cabling.

"Today, at about 10 in the morning, smoke was located in a technical room of the administrative building in Znamenka, which is under repairing now," the press service said. "The fire brigades, which arrived to the building, localized the smoke. No victims there.".

Fire that broke out in one of the buildings of the defense ministry has been put out, Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday.

Fire fighters are now washing down internal structures and premises, he said.

"Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has set a task to assess damage done to the building, in particular to its support structures. Sergei Shoigu issued an order to restore the building as soon as possible and preserve its histirical appearance," he said.

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