Tragedy in Baku: death toll from residential building fire reaches 16

Azerbaijan’s Emergency Situations Ministry received a call about a fire in a residential building in the Binagadi district today. The professionals and equipment of the fire protection service of the ministry were immediately sent to the scene, according to the ministry.

The deputy emergency situations minister of Azerbaijan, Lieutenant-General Etibar Mirzayev, said that some 40 ambulances and 2 helicopters are working at the scene. He explained the delay in extinguishing the fire by saying the traffic jams prevented the fire brigades to reach the scene quickly.

The deputy minister said the building didn't have gas supply, but during the fire there were several explosions of gas cylinders.

“The fire also injured the emergency situations ministry’s employees. Some 25 people were evacuated during the fire. Those who remained in their apartments during the fire weren't injured. Those who in a panic tried to get out of the building were injured, most of them were poisoned by combustion products,” Trend cited Mirzayev as saying.

The death toll in the fire reached 16, including three children, and 54 people were injured.