Huge blaze destroys Baku shopping mall, no casualties reported

BAKU, March 26 (Xinhua) -- A huge fire destroyed a shopping center here on Tuesday, but no Casualties have been reported, according to the Azerbaijani emergency and health authorities.

Firefighting and emergency crews, internal troops units as well as three helicopters were deployed in the rescue effort in the Azerbaijani capital's Nizami district. The blaze, which started in one of the stores of Diglas trade center in the morning, then raged through the entire building.

Employees of the shopping mall were immediately evacuated, which helped avoid Casualties, emergency authorities said in a statement.

The blaze was prevented from spreading to nearby facilities and a residential building. It took several hours for firefighters to extinguish the fire.

The Ministry of Health said an emergency employee was hospitalized with a minor arm injury, while several people believed to have suffered from smoke inhalation were given emergency aid.

The country's emergency situations minister, deputy interior minister and head of the district's executive authority rushed to the site of the fire.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known. Authorities have launched an investigation.