President Aliyev visits scene of fire tragedy in Baku

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev visited the site of a fire in a high-rise residential building in Baku and held the first meeting of the state commission for investigation of the causes of the fire on May 20.

The strong fire at a sixteen-storey building in Baku’s Binagadi district on May 19 killed 15, four of which are children. 41 people were hospitalized suffering burns, gas poisoning.

As the president said, the primary version of the cause of the fire is the facing of the building with poor-quality and non-fire-resistant materials.

The fire started from the first floor and in a few seconds covered the entire high-rise, the witnesses say. This is the second case this month where fire spread rapidly due to easily flammable materials.

The head of state gave instructions to members of the relevant state commission on a range of issues, including investigation of the causes of fire and elimination of its consequences, provision of assistance to those who were affected by the tragedy and families of those who died.

Then the State Commission, which was set up to deal with the incident, held its first meeting chaired by the president.

The head of state once again offered his condolences to families of those who died in the incident.

A minute’s silence was observed to honor the victims of the tragedy.

President Aliyev highlighted the measures taken by the government to eliminate the consequences of fire. Criminal proceedings have already been brought against those responsible for the incident, he said adding that they will be seriously punished.

Saying that there are many buildings with similar covering in Baku, the head of state gave concrete instructions to the Baku City executive Authority and the Emergency Situations Ministry to examine the buildings covered with such paneling as well as the structure of the material, and immediately remove it from the facade of the buildings in case of danger.

President Aliyev also gave instructions to provide financial assistance to families of the dead and to the injured, repair – through government funding – the building and the apartments damaged by fire, equip the apartments with necessary utensils, reissue the documents that were destroyed by fire.

The members of the State Commission provided information about the causes of fire and the work done.

President Aliyev once again gave concrete instructions to thoroughly investigate the incident and take necessary measures, AzerTag state news agency reported.