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ConflictsAzerbaijan

Nagorno-Karabakh: Several killed in fuel blast

September 26, 2023

At least 20 people died as hundreds were believed to have been at the fuel depot at the time of the explosion, authorities said. Azerbaijan recently launched a short campaign to take control of the region.

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Flames over fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan
More than 200 people were injured in a blast at a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh, a separatist official saidImage: AFP

A powerful blast at a fuel storage facility rocked the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is part of Azerbaijan but populated by ethnic Armenians, on Monday evening. 

The separatist government in the region said at least 20 people died in the blast.  

More than 200 people were wounded in the explosion near the regional capital of Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh human rights ombudsman Gegham Stepanyan said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Dozens of people were lining up at the fuel facility where the blast occurred because they had been promised fuel for their cars in order to move to Armenia, according to Nagorno-Karabakh's separatist authorities.

The majority of the victims were in "severe or extremely severe" condition, Stepanyan said, adding that the victims would need to be airlifted out of the region for medical treatment to save their lives.

Armenians flee Nagorno-Karabakh

The Azerbaijani military attacked the breakaway region last week, forcing the separatist authorities to agree to lay down weapons and start talks on Nagorno-Karabakh's "reintegration" into Azerbaijan after three decades of separatist rule.

While Azerbaijan has pledged to respect the rights of ethnic Armenians in the region and restore supplies after a 10-month blockade, many local residents feared reprisals and decided to leave for Armenia.

The Armenian government said that 6,650 Nagorno-Karabakh residents had fled to Armenia as of Monday evening. On Sunday the figure stood at around 1,000. 

Approximately 1,100 have received emergency shelter from the Armenian government and another 1,000 have found their own shelter.

dh/ab (AP, AFP, dpa)