1 killed, 24 injured in explosion at entertainment venue in Azerbaijani capital

By Ruslan Rehimov

BAKU, Azerbaijan (AA) - One person was killed and 24 others injured in an explosion at an entertainment venue in Azerbaijani capital of Baku, the Health Ministry reported late Saturday.

The explosion and resulting fire broke out in a nightclub on Terlan Aliyarbeyov Street in central Baku at about 3 a.m. local time, said the ministry.

It noted that fire and rescue teams were dispatched and the fire was soon extinguished.

Deputy Minister Etibar Mirzeyev went to the scene and conducted investigations.

Dozens of injured people were taken to hospitals.

Internal Ministry spokesman Ehsan Zahidov said that according to preliminary determinations, the explosion occurred due to a natural gas leak.

A statement from of a gas company in the country, Azerigaz, said the incident occurred due to a tube explosion.

Apartments in the building where the venue is located and vehicles near the scene were decimated by the explosion.

*Writing by Merve Berker