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An explosion struck a nightclub in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, early on Sunday, setting off a fire that killed one person and injured 31, the Associated Press reported.
The explosion was believed to have been caused by a gas leak and investigations were ongoing, an interior ministry spokesperson said.
“Very sad news about casualties as a result of explosion at the club downtown Baku,” US ambassador Khazar Ibrahim tweeted. “My condolences and prayers.”
Some 24 of the injured had been hospitalised, most with burns, a health ministry spokesperson said.
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The country’s emergency services were called to the club at 3am (11pm GMT on Saturday) and extinguished the fire before it could spread, according to a statement from the department. – Reuters/Associated Press