BAKU - A high-rise residential building collapsed in the Azerbaijani capital Baku on Tuesday, emergency officials said, and there were fears that up to 20 people were trapped under the rubble.
"The cause of the accident is unknown and emergency workers are heading to the scene," said Tural Museyibov, a spokesman for the ministry of emergency situations. "We do not exclude that there are casualties."
The Azeri Press Agency quoted emergency workers as saying up to 20 people may have been in the 17-storey building when it collapsed.
The agency said the recently constructed building was not inhabited but that craftsmen had been inside working on its interior. It said emergency workers were bringing heavy equipment to assist in rescue efforts.
Russia's Interfax news agency earlier quoted emergency workers as saying one person had died and one been injured.
The surrounding area was thick with orange dust as emergency vehicles rushed to the scene.
08/28/2007 14:47 GMT