An explosion has partially destroyed an apartment building in Azerbaijan, leaving at least three people missing.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blast in the eastern town of Xirdalan, but officials said it could have been a gas leak.

Eight people, some of them children, were rushed to the hospital after being pulled from the rubble by rescuers. They were searching for at least three more people officials said remained under the debris.

The apartment block houses Azerbaijani refugees from regions occupied by Armenian forces.

Emergency Situations Minister Kamaladdin Heydarov was at the site and urged journalists not to get close to the damaged building.

(RFE/RL)

Bakudaily.Az