Firefighters battle massive fire at Baku shopping mallMarch 26, 2019 - 14:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A massive fire has broken out in a shopping mall in Baku's Nizami district, RFE/RL reports. Azerbaijan's Emergency Situations Ministry said on March 26 that employees of the Diglas trade center had been evacuated. An RFE/RL correspondent reports from the scene that firefighters are trying to extinguish the blaze in the upper floors of the five-story building. Two helicopters have been dispatched to the site to help tackle the fire. Local media quoted the city's ambulance service as saying that 10 people had been diagnosed with smoke poisoning. Emergency Situations Minister Kamaladdin Heydarov, top police officials, and local authorities are at the site. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |