Eight firefighters have been killed in a major fire in Moscow, according to Russia’s Emergencies Ministry.

Their bodies were discovered in the rubble left after the fire was put out this morning.

A spokesman said those who died had been on the roof of the building trying to put out the fire when it collapsed.

“We mourn our comrades. Thanks to them, 100 employees have been saved from the warehouse which was on fire,” said Andrei Mishchenko, Deputy Head of the Emergencies Ministry in Moscow.

Earlier it was reported that contact with the eight who died had been lost as they battled the fire.

Russian media reports say 160 firefighters from 40 units were deployed to the scene in the east of the capital.

The fire is said to have taken hold in a large warehouse containing plastic materials on Thursday night.

Officials in Moscow say a criminal investigation has been opened.