Azerbaijan munitions factory
© AzadliqRadiosu/YouTube
An explosion has hit an arms factory belonging to Azerbaijan's Department of Defense, followed by a huge fire. At least one fatality and numerous injuries have been reported.

At least one person died and 19 were injured in the incident, the head of the press office for the country's Health Ministry, Liya Bayramova said. According to the Azerbaijan Press Agency (APA), a local woman died of severe burns.

After an initial explosion, blasts continued to rock the factory, eyewitnesses said, according to RIA. The blaze engulfed a large area of the factory grounds.

Residents have been evacuated from the surrounding area, according to local media.

The blast took place in the city of Shirvan, in central Aezerbadjan. The factory is mainly tasked with ammunition production, Interfax reported.


A criminal investigation has been launched into the incident, APA reported.

The fire initially broke out on one of the factory's floors as a result of a short circuit failure, the agency said.