A massive explosion took place early Sunday in the centre of Azerbaijan's capital Baku at a nightclub called LocationBaku, local media has reported. Preliminary findings have suggested the incident was prompted by a gas leak.
According to reports, there are injured and dead as a result of the incident, but their number has not yet been officially established. Earlier figures stated that at least three individuals had been killed as a result, however, the prosecutor general's office later relayed that one person had died and that 31 others had suffered injuries.
Parviz Abubekirov, a spokesperson for the Health Ministry, has since informed the Associated Press that of the injured, 24 individuals had been hospitalised after suffering burn injuries.
Initial reports said that the nightclub in question had opened up about two weeks ago, on 18 March.
On social media, eyewitnesses shared footage appearing to show the destruction and the wounded leaving the area of the club.
The latest posts from eyewitnesses on social networks appear to indicate emergency services were working at the scene and had already begun clearing the rubble. A release issued by the emergency services stated that the blaze had been extinguished by 3 a.m. local time.
Footage purportedly from the scene shows the explosion nearly completely destroyed the entrance to the club.
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