Baku, Azerbaijan—A powerful blast rocked a residential neighborhood in the capital early Sunday morning. The explosion originated from a private home, completely leveling the structure. One person was confirmed dead shortly after emergency crews reached the site. Neighbors reported a strong odor of gas in the air moments before the building collapsed.

Firefighters and search teams pulled the victim from the debris within two hours of the initial incident. Two adjacent homes also sustained significant damage, with shattered windows and cracked walls reported across the block. Gas supply to the entire neighborhood was cut off immediately to prevent further ignitions. The authorities are now treating the scene as a high-risk area.

Investigators from the Ministry of Emergency Situations are currently scouring the remains of the foundation. They suspect a faulty gas valve or an aging pipeline may have led to the accumulation of volatile fumes within the residence. The blast was so intense that the shockwave broke windows in a school building located two streets away.

Local residents are assisting the displaced families with temporary shelter. The city has promised to expedite the investigation and provide compensation for those whose properties were damaged by the blast. However, many who live in the area have questioned the frequency of infrastructure inspections. They claim that the utility lines have not been serviced in years.

Police have restricted access to the street to ensure the safety of the public. Engineers are currently measuring the structural stability of the remaining walls to see if they need to be demolished. The debris removal process is slow, as workers fear further structural instability in the neighboring houses.

Officials from the regional gas utility are under fire for their lack of oversight. They have promised a full audit of the residential district starting tomorrow. This incident has reignited the debate over the safety of the older housing stock in Baku. Residents are demanding a comprehensive upgrade of the entire energy distribution network.

The body of the deceased was moved to the local morgue for an autopsy. No other injuries were reported, which officials consider a stroke of luck given the size of the explosion. The site remains a focal point for the media and the surrounding community.

Work will continue throughout the night to clear the immediate hazard area. Authorities expect to release a preliminary report on the cause of the explosion by tomorrow afternoon. The investigation remains in its early stages as technical teams gather evidence from the blast site.