An explosion at a fuel depot in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan, on Monday evening, the 25th of September, killed 20 people and nearly 300 injured in hospitals, many of whom are still in critical condition, citing local Armenian authorities, reports BBC.
Local officials have reported that the health condition of most of the wounded is serious or very serious, stressing that medical facilities in Nagorno-Karabakh are not enough. In addition, a statement released on Tuesday, the 26th of September, revealed that 13 unidentified bodies were found at the site of the explosion, while seven others died of their injuries in hospital.
In Nagorno-Karabakh, an explosion occurred at a gas storage facility near the highway
The number of dead and injured has already exceeded 200 people. pic.twitter.com/UdxTDN6QdX
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) September 25, 2023
The incident took place at a time when the Armenian government reported that
13 350 refugees had crossed into the country from the enclave.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan expressed concern that ethnic cleansing was currently taking place in the region and stressed the need for international attention on the issue. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has announced its intention to reintegrate ethnic Armenians as “equal citizens”.
Representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Brussels
on Tuesday for talks facilitated by the European Union.
Despite Azerbaijan’s reassurances, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh remain concerned. Only one 70-tonne food delivery has been received since the separatists accepted a ceasefire last week and agreed to disarm. Ethnic Armenian leaders report that thousands of people in the region have no access to food, shelter and are forced to sleep in basements, school buildings or in the open.
Some of the refugees who arrived on Sunday in the Armenian town of Goris, near the border with Karabakh, expressed their suffering. One man told BBC reporters: “I gave my whole life to my homeland. It would be better if they killed me than this.”
Read also: Nagorno-Karabakh Armenians agree to ceasefire due to Azerbaijan military operation