Fire Continues to Burn in Giant Moscow TV Tower
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: A fire is burning in a Moscow television tower right now and four people are reported to be trapped in an elevator inside the 1,700-foot tall structure. No one has been hurt, but authorities aren't sure how to reach the trapped people. CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty has our report.</s>JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): The fire broke out Sunday afternoon in the Ostankino TV tower, a 540-meter structure that pierces the Moscow skyline, the second tallest free- standing building in the world. Nearly 100 fire trucks raced to the scene. Visitors were evacuated from the observation deck and a popular restaurant. But the blaze continued to spread down through the metal and concrete tower. Initial indications were that it started with a short circuit in some equipment. (on camera): The Ostankino tower was built nearly 40 years ago, but today it's a key link for modern sophisticated communication in Russia, including television, radio, and paging operations. (voice-over): Within minutes, major television networks, including Russian state television, went off the air in the Moscow region. Unable to watch the fire on television, thousands of Muscovites from the area near the TV tower stood by in the streets listening to radio reports. Many seemed wearily resigned to yet another tragedy coming on the heels of the sinking of a Russian submarine and a bombing in downtown Moscow.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): What is Russia coming to? They can't extinguish anything. It's one catastrophe after another. What's next?</s>DOUGHERTY: It's the general state of neglect, this man says. As the fire continued to spread, President Vladimir Putin consulted with government officials on how to restore communications. Jill Dougherty, CNN, Moscow.