As Teimuraz Kupatadze, the head of the patrol police department of the Georgian Interior Ministry, told reporters, the blast claimed lives of at least three people.
"According to preliminary information, an explosion occurred on the fourth floor. The investigation will establish the rest of the details", he said, noting that according to preliminary data, the explosion occurred due to a gas leak.
Commenting on the number of casualties, country's Health Minister David Sergeenko stated that seven people were injured as a result of the blast, including six children.
Later, a doctor, cited by the Georgian Imedi TV, stated that one of those injured, a four-year-old girl, has died.
The explosion was followed by a fire and the building being torn down. Firefighters have not yet managed to rescue people from out of the rubble. They are currently working at the site. The people were evacuated from the building. Those injured are taken to local hospitals.
The Georgian authorities have declared 17 January a day of mourning for those killed in the explosion.
