Explosion at Fuel Depot in Nagorno-Karabakh Leaves 20 Dead and Almost 300 Injured
Officials have confirmed that at least 20 people have been killed and nearly 300 others wounded in an explosion at a fuel depot in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. The tragic incident occurred on Monday and has since raised concerns about the region’s safety and access to medical facilities.
Emergency workers swiftly responded to the blast near the city of Stepanakert, transporting 290 patients with various degrees of burns to four different medical facilities, according to a statement released by the health ministry of Nagorno-Karabakh. Tragically, seven individuals succumbed to their injuries, while 13 bodies were recovered at the site and taken to a forensics office. Dozens of patients remain in critical condition, leaving the medical teams in Stepanakert with the challenging task of saving lives under cramped conditions.
“The doctors and medical staff in Stepanakert are doing their best to save the lives of the wounded in these difficult and cramped conditions,” expressed the ministry.
In addition to the devastating explosion, a large influx of displaced people has been observed, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis in the region. A steady stream of cars, buses, heavy-duty trucks, and even tractors, carrying duffel bags filled with essential belongings and sometimes animals, have been pouring out of Nagorno-Karabakh since Sunday afternoon. The central square of Goris, a town across the border in Armenia, has transformed into a makeshift refugee camp, where people seek shelter and assistance.
According to the Armenian government, approximately 13,350 forcibly displaced individuals have entered Armenia from Nagorno-Karabakh as of Tuesday morning. The breakaway region’s government has urged fleeing residents not to rush, as all internal roads within Nagorno-Karabakh have been blocked with traffic.
Recent refugees in Goris have shared harrowing accounts of their escape, stating that it took them up to a full day to flee the area. From the Armenian side of the border, a never-ending line of cars can be seen traveling along a winding road.
Fortunately, military doctors from the Russian peacekeeping contingent stationed in the area have been providing emergency assistance to those injured in the explosion. Their Telegram messaging account reported that 23 individuals with varying degrees of burns were transported to the Russian peacekeeping contingent’s medical unit.
Nagorno-Karabakh, a region roughly the size of Rhode Island in the South Caucasus, had seen relative peace between Armenians and Azerbaijanis for decades until the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 1994, ethnic Armenians gained control of the region with the support of the Armenian military. However, Azerbaijan launched a 44-day war in 2020, seizing control of most of the territory and exacerbating the already dire humanitarian crisis.
Last December, Azerbaijan imposed a blockade on the only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia, further isolating the region and cutting off vital supplies of food and fuel. Nagorno-Karabakh’s human rights ombudsman, Gegham Stepanyan, highlighted the severity of the situation following the explosion, emphasizing the region’s lack of adequate medical facilities and the severe condition of most victims.
As investigations into the explosion continue, authorities are working tirelessly to provide necessary aid to the wounded and ensure the safety and well-being of those affected by this tragedy.