Explosion at Fuel Depot in Nagorno-Karabakh Kills 20 and Injures Hundreds
An explosion at a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh has resulted in the death of 20 people and left hundreds injured, according to local ethnic-Armenian authorities. Nearly 300 people have been admitted to hospitals, with dozens of them in critical condition.
The cause of the explosion, which occurred near the main city of Khankendi, is still unknown. The Armenian government has reported that 19,000 refugees have crossed into the country from Nagorno-Karabakh since local forces surrendered to Azerbaijan. The disputed region is home to approximately 120,000 ethnic Armenians.
The fuel shortage in the region has been exacerbated by the explosion, leading to overcrowded petrol stations as thousands attempt to leave. The only road connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh is congested with cars and buses carrying ethnic Armenians trying to reach the town of Goris across the border. The journey from Goris to Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, is also heavily trafficked.
Families fleeing the region are doing their best to fit as much of their lives as possible into their vehicles. In Goris, a small town surrounded by jagged mountains, streets are filled with cars and families. Some vehicles, like one heavily damaged car, were hit by mortar fire during Azerbaijan’s assault on the region.
Amid the chaos, many evacuees are unsure of their next move. Volunteers are providing basic food and blankets, and occasional buses transport people to other towns and villages. Malina, a resident who left her village and her husband’s grave, speaks of the terror her family endured during last week’s conflict. They huddled in their cellar for two days before being instructed to leave for Armenia for safety.
While Azerbaijan has assured the public that Nagorno-Karabakh’s residents will be treated as equal citizens, there are concerns about the well-being of ethnic Armenians in the region. Only one aid delivery of 70 tonnes of food has been allowed through since the ceasefire, leaving thousands without food or shelter. Local officials have reported that doctors are working under difficult conditions to treat the injured from the fuel depot explosion.
Amid these developments, the head of the US Agency for International Development, Samantha Power, called on Azerbaijan to maintain the ceasefire and protect the rights of civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh. She also announced $11.5 million of US aid to assist those fleeing.
Diplomatic talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan have begun in Brussels, with envoys discussing the region’s future. This is the first dialogue between the two countries since Azerbaijan seized control of Nagorno-Karabakh. Additionally, Azerbaijan has initiated separate negotiations with the region’s ethnic-Armenian authorities.
Nagorno-Karabakh, an internationally recognized part of Azerbaijan, has been under the control of ethnic Armenians for three decades. The region has received support from Armenia and Russia, who have had peacekeeping forces there. In last week’s operation, Azerbaijan’s army, alongside Azerbaijani soldiers, killed five Russian peacekeepers and several hundred ethnic Armenians. Azerbaijan’s defence ministry has recently announced the confiscation of additional military equipment from the area.