ASTANA - Three people have been killed in an apartment building fire in the central city of Karaganda, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan said on Monday.

The blaze, which started from trash and debris accumulated at the entrance of the nine-story building, lasted for half an hour Sunday, according to the ministry. More than 40 firefighters and 12 fire trucks were called to the scene.

The bodies of two women and a 16-year-old boy were found after over 30 people were evacuated from the building, according to local reports.