Russian influencer and clairvoyant Anna Otavina, 24, has shared how an ordinary night in her luxury Moscow penthouse turned into a fire emergency when a power bank exploded next to her bed. Her story is shocking, but her message is simple: never leave portable chargers lying around or charging unattended, especially while you sleep.Otavina says she was fast asleep when the fire started. The portable charger, which she had left on the bed to charge her phone, suddenly overheated, she shared in a video posted on social media.In her words, “the fire happened in a split second.” She believes that the device caught fire because it overheated while resting against soft bedding rather than a firm, ventilated surface. At the time, she was lying with her back to the power bank and her long hair loose. She woke to the sudden heat and chaos.As she jumped up, the flames had already reached her hair. The burning hair then fell onto her back, searing her skin before she even had time to understand what was happening.When she turned to look, she realised the situation was far worse than a small spark: her pillow and blanket were already burning, and the power bank had dropped to the floor. Instead of going out, it ignited the carpet, spreading the fire further across her bedroom.Thinking quickly, Otavina tried to control the blaze herself, she shared. She managed to cover the burning power bank to smother the flames and then moved to put out the fires on her bed and carpet. Only once the immediate danger was under control did she have time to think about her injuries.She went to the bathroom and ran cold water on the burns on her back, trying to ease the pain and cool the damaged skin. Emergency services arrived soon after and assessed the extent of her injuries. Doctors diagnosed her with second-degree burns covering around 30 percent of her back. These types of burns affect deeper layers of the skin, can be extremely painful and often require careful medical treatment to reduce the risk of infection and scarring.For someone whose public image is tied to glamour and online presence, the physical and emotional impact is especially heavy.
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Despite the trauma, Otavina has turned the experience into a warning for her followers. She described the situation as “unpleasant,” but said the lesson is very clear. In her view, nobody should leave power banks out on soft surfaces, especially overnight. She now refuses to leave devices plugged in while she sleeps and has completely stopped using power banks. She has also changed her habits at home, unplugging electronics and making sure nothing potentially hazardous is left charging unattended.Otavina says the power bank that exploded was a gift from an ex‑partner, and she cannot recall the brand or model. That detail makes it difficult to trace the exact cause or to warn against a specific product, but her story highlights a broader issue: cheap or faulty batteries and chargers, especially those of unknown origin, can be far more dangerous than many people realise. Lithium‑ion power banks are designed to be safe, but poor quality manufacturing, damage, or misuse—including covering them with bedding or trapping them in unventilated spaces, can increase the risk of overheating and fire.Before the incident, Otavina had built a career as an online clairvoyant. She offers advice to thousands of clients on topics like “energy healing,” “woman power,” how to find a “decent man,” and strategies to “attract money.” The irony that a fortune teller did not foresee a power bank explosion has not gone unnoticed by her followers, but she has leaned into the reality of the situation rather than the jokes. Her focus now is on sharing a practical safety message: even everyday objects can become dangerous if used carelessly, and nobody is immune to unexpected accidents.Her experience is a vivid reminder that technology, while convenient, always comes with some risk.Many people sleep with phones and chargers on their beds, leave devices plugged in overnight, or pile electronics on soft surfaces without thinking twice. Otavina’s story shows how quickly that routine behaviour can turn into an emergency, starting with a faint sizzling sound, a flash, and suddenly hair, bedding and skin on fire.The lesson she wants others to take away is straightforward: treat power banks and chargers with respect. Use them on hard, ventilated surfaces. Don’t cover them with pillows or blankets. Avoid leaving them charging while you sleep.And be cautious about using devices of unknown quality or origin.
