16 die, scores injured in apartment building fire in Azerbaijan capital; probe launched

An apartment building on fire is seen in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Azerbaijani officials say 16 people have died and more than 50 have been injured in a fire at an apartment building in Baku, the capital. The massive fire quickly engulfed 16-story apartment building Tuesday and took hours to contain. Azerbaijan's chief prosecutor, Zakir Garalov, said the bad quality of plastic paneling covering the building contributed to the fire and a criminal probe has been launched to determine the culprits. (AP Photo/Orxan Azim) (The Associated Press)

A police officer and a fire fighter help child victim of an apartment building fire in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Azerbaijani officials say 16 people have died and more than 50 have been injured in a fire at an apartment building in Baku, the capital. The massive fire quickly engulfed 16-story apartment building Tuesday and took hours to contain. Azerbaijan's chief prosecutor, Zakir Garalov, said the bad quality of plastic paneling covering the building contributed to the fire and a criminal probe has been launched to determine the culprits. (AP Photo/Orxan Azim) (The Associated Press)

A rescue worker gets on a roof of an apartment building after a fire in Baku, Azerbaijan, Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Azerbaijani officials say 16 people have died and more than 50 have been injured in a fire at an apartment building in Baku, the capital. The massive fire quickly engulfed 16-story apartment building Tuesday and took hours to contain. Azerbaijan's chief prosecutor, Zakir Garalov, said the bad quality of plastic paneling covering the building contributed to the fire and a criminal probe has been launched to determine the culprits. (AP Photo/Orxan Azim) (The Associated Press)

Azerbaijani officials say 16 people have died and more than 50 have been injured in a fire at an apartment building in Baku, the capital.

The massive fire quickly engulfed 16-story apartment building Tuesday and took hours to contain.

Azerbaijan's chief prosecutor, Zakir Garalov, said the bad quality of plastic paneling covering the building contributed to the fire and a criminal probe has been launched to determine the culprits.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev took personal control of the investigation.

A similar fire erupted in Baku earlier this month, but there were no injuries.