A blaze that broke out in the early hours of Monday morning at a shopping centre in Easterm Helsinki claimed the life of one man, police have confirmed.
The fire broke out in a storage area of the Kontula shopping centre in the city's Mellunkylä neighbourhood.
The victim, a shopping centre worker, was born in the 1960s, according to police.
The Helsinki City Rescue Department told news agency STT that the blaze seems to have started at the loading dock area and then spread to an adjacent restaurant.
According to the department, the loading dock served a number of different companies. It noted that fire and smoke spread across a large part of the property.
Rescue services received a call about the blaze shortly before 2am on Monday.
The fire was first noticed by a nearby police patrol unit. Police told STT that officers first saw a lot of smoke and then flames rising from the roof.
Police said they do not suspect foul play.
A total of 20 rescue units were sent to fight the blaze.
According to Yle journalist Nina Svahn, who was at the site, the fire took several of the shopping centre's shops out of use and that the smell of smoke was pervasive.
Mohammed Barwqari, who owns the Zitu bakery shop, did not witness the blaze, but noted that it would hurt his business.
"The water was cut off and we won't be able to make the dough now," he said.
According to the City of Helsinki's website, the Kontula shopping centre opened in 1967 and is the largest open-air shopping centre in Finland.
