courtesy: HT
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An explosion at a fuel depot in Nagorno-Karabakh has killed as many as 20 people and have injured hundreds more, as per Armenian authorities say.
Around 300 were hospitalised, with dozens of them still being in “critical condition.”
It comes as the Armenian government shared that 13,350 refugees had crossed into the country from the enclave. The disputed region in the Azerbaijan is home to a majority of 120,000 ethnic Armenians.
The petrol stations were over crowded as thousands of residents wished to leave the city, which was already suffering from shortage of fuel following a months-long blockade.
On Tuesday, the officials in a statement said that 13 unidentified bodies were found at the location of the incident and 7 more people died at the hospital.
It is still not clear what caused the explosion on Monday evening near the main city of Khankendi, known as Stepanakert by Armenians.
The officials also stated that the doctors were working in “difficult and cramped” conditions and have been working tireslessly to save the lives of 290 patients, who have suffered various degree burns.
The Armenian health ministry said that it will be sending helicopters to evacuate victims from the region’s strained hospitals. Azerbaijan also stated that they have sent the medical supplies.