Strong blast occurs in building in Azerbaijan’s capital, casualties reported - UPDATED

18:45

Etibar Mirzayev, Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations made a report on blasted building in Nasimi district, APA’s correspondent reports from the site.

The Deputy Minister noted that the Ministry carried out operations while receiving information about blast of building at 16.40. Two died and four were injured in the aftermath of the blast occurred in the fifth floor of the five-storey building in Javad Khan Street, 30. One of the dead is a young girl, other one is 60-year-old man.

The Deputy Minister said gas leak supposedly caused the blast. Rescue operations continue. The investigation is under way.

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18:30

Nasimi district police office told APA that it happened in the fifth floor of the five-storey building in Javad Khan Street, 30. Gas leak supposedly caused the blast. The blast was followed by the fire.

Assistant of the head physician of Baku Emergency Aid Station Rauf Nagiyev told APA’s correspondent at the site that 2 bodies had been taken out of wreckage, 7 had been injured.

Law-enforcers, fire fighters, Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Etibar Mirzayev and ambulances have arrived at the site. The fire has been extinguished. Rescue operations continue.

One of the injured residents, Sureyya Sadigova, 38, had closed head injury and was taken to the resuscitation department of Republic Hospital named after Academician Mirgasimov. She is in critical condition.

6 injured residents were taken to Clinic Medical Center.

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18:10

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, witnesses say there are dead and injured.

"By preliminary version, one died and four were injured", said witnesses.

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18:00

According to Interfax-Azerbaijan, fourth and fifth floors of a five storied building were damaged. Four flats on the corner of the building were hit by the blast.

Four people suffered by unchecked information, it is unclear where anyone died.

Over 10 cars of the fire-fighting vehicles of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and several ambulances work on the spot.

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17:48

Gas leak has supposedly caused the blast.

The blast was followed by the fire.

According to APA’s correspondent at the site casualties are reported. Law-enforcers, fire fighters of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and ambulances have arrived at the site. Measures are taken to extinguish the fire.

/APA/