Footage showed smoke and massive flames coming from a warehouse near Tashkent's international airport. The cause of the explosion was unclear.

A number of people have been injured after a powerful explosion in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Thursday morning.

The incident occurred at a warehouse near Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport, Uzbek news website Daryo reported, citing the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

According to report, the Ministry of Emergencies’ unit on duty received a report of an explosion and subsequent fire that occurred in one of the warehouses located in the territory of the ‘Stroitel’ complex in the Sergeli district of the city of Tashkent,“ the ministry said on Telegram.

The ministry said there were no casualties in the incident, adding that 16 fire engines were battling the fire.

The ministry also denied reports, appearing on social media, that a plane crash allegedly caused the explosion.

“Fake news is spreading on some social media that the incident in Sergeli district was the result of a plane crash. This information does not correspond to reality,“ the ministry said in another post.

However, the Uzbek Health Ministry said there were casualties in the incident, adding that those injured were taken to hospitals.

“Those injured as a result of the fire were taken to the Republican research Centre of Emergency Medicine and its branch in the Tashkent region,“ the ministry said on Telegram.

The ministry added that those admitted to the centre had no serious injuries and were being provided with necessary medical care. 

Footage circulating on social media showed a column of flames and smoke rising into the night sky.

The emergency ministry said the cause of the explosion was unclear, and said fire crews were able to respond quickly. 

"The area of the fire is being reduced," the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. "The situation is completely under control."

Dozens of fire and rescue crews and vehicles have arrived at the warehouse, Daryo reported.

"At the moment, there are not any seriously injured. Right now, doctors are furnishing all necessary medical assistance," the Health Ministry said on Telegram.

Uzbekistan is the most populous of the central Asian former Soviet republics, and accidents due to dilapidated equipment and poor adherence to safety standards are common in Uzbekistan, but incidents of this magnitude are rare. 

Uzbekistan's Emergencies Ministry said on June 14 that an explosion at a copper-pipe factory in Tashkent killed one person and injured six. According to the ministry, the blast in the Uzbek capital's Chilonzor district was caused by a gas leak. 

As a result of the explosion, the roof of the workshop with an area of 50 square meters collapsed, the ministry said. Rescue work continues as officials and representatives of the Interior Ministry, the National Guard, the Health Department of Tashkent, and the Emergencies Ministry remain at the site.

In July 9, 2021. A fuel tank explosion in the central Samarkand region in Uzbekistan killed one man and injured another, Samarkand regional department of the emergency situations reported.

According to report, the accident occurred when workers tried to carry out welding works on a 25-ton underground fuel tank at a gas station in the Samarkand district, it said.

Five groups of firefighters and rescue workers of the regional emergency response department took part in extinguishing the fire that erupted following the explosion.