A fire at a drug rehabilitation centre in Baku has left at least 24 people dead and several more injured. Local media quoted Health Ministry officials as saying that three people have been hospitalised, and more than 30 rescued.

The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, but according to RFE/RL, official statements say a malfunction in the power grid is suspected to have been the cause.

The fire broke out at around 08:20 on 2 March.

An official investigation has been launched.

President Ilham Aliyev attended the scene, along with Interior Minister Ramil Usubov.

According to the BBC, the country suffers from a ‘chronic shortage of rehabilitation places for its 30,000 registered drug addicts’.