Nagorno-Karabakh: At least 20 dead and 300 injured in fuel depot explosion

At least 20 people were killed and nearly 300 injured in a powerful explosion that occurred Monday night at a fuel depot in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

A gasoline tank exploded in the Stepanakert / Khankendi suburb of Aykazov in Nagorno-Karabakh

Many drivers were apparently near the tank who were trying to get fuel to leave Nagorno-Karabakh in their own cars.

Many casualties expected pic.twitter.com/gY8zy1iSE0

— Ragıp Soylu (@ragipsoylu) September 25, 2023

Local Armenian authorities said 290 people were hospitalized, dozens of them “still in critical condition” after the explosion at the facility near the regional capital Stepanakert.

The cause of the explosion is still unknown.

🔴 #URGENT | Estalla una gasoline en Stepanakert, Artsaj, while evacuations are being carried out from Nagorno Karabakh in Armenia. Heridos confirmed. pic.twitter.com/qIVm30QLWq

— Mundo en Conflicto 🌎 (@MundoEConflicto) September 25, 2023

Dozens of people had lined up at the time at the facility where the explosion occurred because they had been promised fuel, according to Nagorno-Karabakh separatist authorities.

The blast came hours after the second round of talks between Azerbaijani officials and separatist representatives took place in the city of Khojaly, just north of the Nagorno-Karabakh capital. Azerbaijan’s presidential office said in a statement that the talks were held “in a constructive atmosphere” and that the discussion focused on humanitarian aid in the region and medical services.

This is critical. A fuel and gas distribution center in Nagorno-Karabakh has exploded. There has been a critical fuel shortage in NK due to Azerbaijan’s ~10 month blockade, obstructing many NK Armenians from fleeing. https://t.co/rIWFO3yfOw

— lucy martirosyan (@lucymartiros) September 25, 2023