Fire at drug rehabilitation centre in Azerbaijan kills at least 24 people, short circuit may have caused blaze

Baku: At least 24 people were killed in a fire at a drug rehabilitation centre in the capital of Azerbaijan, authorities said in a joint statement on Friday. The statement was released by the Public Prosecution Office, Health Ministry, Interior Ministry and Ministry of Emergencies, Xinhua reported. [caption id=“attachment_4373709” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Police officers gather near a drug abuse treatment center that caught fire in Baku, Azerbaijan. Reuters[/caption] The authorities said 34 people were rescued with three hospitalised. The blaze was extinguished by firefighters, who reached the scene immediately, the statement said. Earlier local reports said at least 30 people died in the fire. Under the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev, a joint investigation group involving the Public Prosecution Office, Interior Ministry and Ministry of Emergencies was established. According to preliminary investigations, the fire was caused by a short circuit in the building’s electrical network.