At least 16 people died and three people are still missing after blasts ripped through a fireworks warehouse in a shopping mall in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Sunday, the emergencies ministry said on Tuesday.

The Armenian emergency authority previously said a total of 61 people were injured.

Fire caused by the explosion has since been put out, the Armenian officials said.

Minister of Emergency Situations Armen Pambukhchyan, quoted by Sputnik Armenia news agency, said the fire that caused by the blasts had been extinguished, but strong winds still posed a threat as rescuers continue to search for survivors. 

The emergency authority said per initial investigation two large explosions brought down part of a building housing fireworks, but it was not immediately clear what caused the fireworks to ignite.