A fire in a nine-story residential building on Mirali Seyidov Street in Baku’s Yasamal district has left three people dead, including a child, and sent 20 residents to the hospital with smoke-inhalation injuries.
Authorities confirmed the identities of two of the victims: Arzu Ali gizi Gambarli (born 2018) and Samir Kamal oglu Mammadov (born 1983). The third victim has not yet been formally identified. Officials said all three had died before emergency crews arrived.
According to the Republican Emergency Medical Service, the first call about the fire came in around 19:50 on November 21. The Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) dispatched 18 ambulance crews to the scene. Paramedics administered initial treatment to 15 residents and transported them to the Clinical Medical Center with signs of smoke poisoning. Five more sought medical help on their own, bringing the total number of hospitalized to 20.
Fire officials said the blaze began in the building’s electrical shaft, quickly filling several floors with smoke. Units from the State Fire Protection Service and the Special Risk Rescue Service were deployed, evacuating residents and preventing the flames from spreading to apartments.
MES duty officer Nurlan Isagov told reporters that the fire was fully extinguished and living areas were protected from significant damage. Earlier reports described heavy smoke, a large police presence, and ongoing uncertainty about casualties as the fire was being contained.
The incident underscores recurring concerns about fire safety and electrical infrastructure in aging residential blocks across Baku. Authorities say an investigation is under way.
